Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Judge says man who hit and killed two fellow UBC students should serve 3 years

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Nov, 2023 05:41 PM
  • Judge says man who hit and killed two fellow UBC students should serve 3 years

A British Columbia judge has ruled that a 23-year-old man who hit and killed two University of British Columbia students while he was speeding through the campus in 2021 should serve three years in jail and be prohibited from driving for five years. 

Provincial court Judge Glenn Lee told the court in Richmond, B.C., that Tim Goerner will still be young when his sentence is done and he can then spread a message to people about the dangers of drinking and driving. 

"This can be your role in giving back to society," Lee told Goerner on Tuesday. "I really encourage you to do that."

The court heard he had been drinking at a party before the high-speed crash that killed Emily Selwood and Evan Smith as they walked down a sidewalk on the university campus in the early morning hours of Sept. 26, 2021.

The sentence is in line with a joint submission by the Crown and his defence lawyer, who outlined why Goerner should serve the term for two counts of dangerous driving causing death, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

Lee wished Goerner “good luck” before he was led away in handcuffs by sheriffs. 

His mother broke down in tears as Goerner was taken from the courtroom. 

Goerner pleaded guilty last month to the charges. He had originally faced two counts of impaired driving causing death. 

On Monday, the court heard that Goerner was going between 100 and 120 kilometres an hour in a 40 km/h zone before he ran down Smith and Selwood, who were both 18 years old. 

Goerner sobbed during emotional victim impact statements from the parents of the victims at Monday's sentencing hearing, then told the court that he will reflect on his wrongdoing for the rest of his life. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

BC safety coalition to launch today

BC safety coalition to launch today
A new provincewide public safety coalition that includes community and business groups, citizens and well-known B-C retailers is set to launch today. A statement says the coalition wants governments to work together and act quickly on crime and violence issues in communities across B-C.

BC safety coalition to launch today

Sikh independence vote in B.C.sees thousands turnout amid Canada-India tensions

Sikh independence vote in B.C.sees thousands turnout amid Canada-India tensions
A second referendum on Khalistan — an independent state in India proposed by some Sikhs — was held today at the same Surrey gurdwara where activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in June. Sarbraj Kahlon, news director at Radio Punjab who was at the referendum site, called the latest vote a success after 65,700 people turned out in Surrey Sunday to cast ballots. 

Sikh independence vote in B.C.sees thousands turnout amid Canada-India tensions

Police watchdog asks Crown to consider charges against officers in B.C. shooting

Police watchdog asks Crown to consider charges against officers in B.C. shooting
A statement from B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office says it has submitted a report to the prosecution service for consideration of charges related to the July 2021 incident in Campbell River on Vancouver Island. It says an interaction took place between a man and police at the drive-through window of a local business, during which police fired shots and the driver of the vehicle was killed. 

Police watchdog asks Crown to consider charges against officers in B.C. shooting

Car crashes into hot dog store in Richmond, one person with critical injuries

Car crashes into hot dog store in Richmond, one person with critical injuries
Police in Richmond say a 46-year-old Burnaby woman is recovering after being critically injured when a vehicle crashed through the wall of a Richmond restaurant on Friday. The driver of the car a dark coloured Tesla -- was not hurt and R-C-M-P now say alcohol and drugs were not factors, but the detachment's criminal collision investigation team has taken over the case.

Car crashes into hot dog store in Richmond, one person with critical injuries

Premier Eby condemns rise in hate crimes in B.C. stemming from Israeli-Hamas conflict

Premier Eby condemns rise in hate crimes in B.C. stemming from Israeli-Hamas conflict
British Columbia Premier David Eby is condemning the rise in hate crimes in the province, driven by the Israeli-Hamas war. Eby says in a written statement that his office has heard "directly" about a number of acts of antisemitism, such as the vandalism of a rabbi's home and two Jewish women being threatened with violence after a rally.  

Premier Eby condemns rise in hate crimes in B.C. stemming from Israeli-Hamas conflict

Man who jumped off Alex Fraser Bridge couldn't have been saved: IIO

Man who jumped off Alex Fraser Bridge couldn't have been saved: IIO
British Columbia's police watchdog has found that officers could not have prevented the death of a man who jumped off a bridge in Delta this week.  The Independent Investigations Office of B-C says that officers responded to a call on Monday to find the man in distress and standing outside the railing on the side of the Alex Fraser Bridge.

Man who jumped off Alex Fraser Bridge couldn't have been saved: IIO