The Crown is calling for a federal prison term of two-and-a-half to three years for a Surrey drunk driver who smashed into a car with his SUV at 129 km/h in the middle of an intersection in Newton, killing an 80-year-old grandmother and injuring her granddaughter.
Shavin Reynold Singh, 31, pleaded guilty on July 30 to impaired driving causing death in the case of 80-year-old Dolat Jiwani and impaired driving causing bodily harm of the teen, who suffered broken bones and burns.
Dolat had recently been the recipient of a liver transplant and suffered plenty before being given that new lease on life, the court heard.
Her eldest son, Hussain, told the court that she is sorely missed.
91裸聊视频淲e always pray for her soul to rest in eternal piece,91裸聊视频 Hussain said, with his sister-in-law interpreting, and that his family 91裸聊视频渉ope and pray91裸聊视频 Singh will learn from this so more people don91裸聊视频檛 suffer.
Singh apologized to the victims91裸聊视频 families. La Prairie reserved his decision to Nov. 13.
The crash happened on July 15, 2017 at 72nd Avenue and 132nd Street, where the posted speed limit is 50 km/h. Judge Peter La Prairie heard sentencing submissions Friday, in Surrey provincial court. Winston Sayson is the Crown prosecutor and Michael Beckett is Singh91裸聊视频檚 defence lawyer.
Sayson asked the judge to denounce the 91裸聊视频減ointless killing of innocent people.91裸聊视频
91裸聊视频淚t is not an accident,91裸聊视频 he said. 91裸聊视频淚t is a true crime.91裸聊视频
Defence lawyer Michael Beckett says Singh has never tried to deflect blame for the fatal crash. "He has always worn it squarely on his shoulders, and it weighs very heavily on him."
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
Sayson also argued for a driving prohibition of three or four years while Beckett sought a sentence of two years less a day to two-and-a-half years in prison. He said his client has never tried to deflect blame for the crash.
91裸聊视频淗e has always worn it squarely on his shoulders, and it weighs very heavily on him,91裸聊视频 Beckett told the judge.
Beckett heard that Singh drank five 91裸聊视频渟queeze91裸聊视频 watermelon vodka drinks before driving, downing his last one just 10 minutes before the crash. Witnesses reported seeing the Dodge he was driving speeding, and swerving in and out of traffic. He was on his way to a pet store, to buy a dog leash. He left the scene after the crash, to chase after his dog when it ran away.
Dolat died on the spot.
91裸聊视频淭he accused has a long-term and entrenched drug and alcohol problem,91裸聊视频 Sayson said. Family members left the courtroom before a traffic camera video of the crash was played.
Singh already had three immediate roadside driving prohibitions 91裸聊视频 a one day, a three day and a 90 day 91裸聊视频 and also had a history of failing to stay at the scene of a crash and driving without a licence, which he has never held. He was prohibited from driving, by court order, at the time of the fatal crash. Sayson said Singh91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频減attern of disregard91裸聊视频 demonstrates contempt for the law.
The court heard that upon his arrest, Singh told police that he learned to drive by watching video games.
Jiwani91裸聊视频檚 granddaughter Hannah 91裸聊视频 not the one who was injured 91裸聊视频 said she was the glue that kept their family unified and the umbrella that kept them safe.
91裸聊视频淗e (Singh) left us empty, angry and sad,91裸聊视频 she cried. 91裸聊视频淚 will never get to hug her again, because of his actions.91裸聊视频
Beckett, in his submission, presented the judge with reference letters from Singh91裸聊视频檚 mother, pastor and others.
91裸聊视频淲hat they91裸聊视频檙e really asking for is leniency and mercy,91裸聊视频 he said. 91裸聊视频淢r. Singh is heavily remorseful.91裸聊视频
He told the court Singh quit drinking since the fatal crash. He91裸聊视频檇 been self-medicating with alcohol, Beckett said, after his father died of a heart attack in his arms in 2014.
Beckett said Singh is the breadwinner for his family and his going to prison will be hard on them. He said his client is thinking of speaking to high school students about the dangers of drunk driving.
Singh hit Jiwani's car mid-intersection at 129 km/h per hour. Grandmother died at scene. The Crown said Singh told police upon arrest that he learned how to drive by watching video games." He was prohibited from driving by court order at time of crash. He's never held a licence.
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
Crown also seeking three-year driving prohibition. Singh had history or roadside prohibitions, driving without licence, failing to stay at scene of crash. Prosecutor Winston Sayson says Singh's "pattern of disregard" shows contempt for the law.
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
Singh drank five "squeeze" water melon drinks before driving, the last one 10 minutes before the crash. He was heading to a pet store to get a dog leash. After the crash, he left the scene to chase after his dog, which ran away.
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
"The accused has a long-term and entrenched drug and alcohol problem," Sayson said. Family members left the courtroom before a traffic camera video of the crash was played.
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
Water melon vodka drinks, that is. The Dodge Journey he was driving was seen swerving in and out of traffic before the crash.
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
Grandma killed by drunk driver was a recent recipient of a liver transplant, the court heard. Her grandaughter was injured in crash, suffering broken bones and burns.
91裸聊视频 Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)
Impaired driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and the maximum penalty for impaired driving causing bodily harm is 10 years.
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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