Episode 04: Was Justice Served? Sentencing in an Impaired Driving Death Part 2

After 967 days of waiting, the sentence was finally delivered.In Part 2 of Episode 4 of LIVID: Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving, Amanda Bickell shares what happened in court when the man who killed her 22-year-old daughter, Abbey, was sentenced.Four and a half years in prison. A seven-year driving ban.And one question that wouldn’t go away: Was justice actually served?This episode takes you inside the final stage of sentencing—from the defence’s arguments for leniency to the judge’s reasoning, and the emotional aftermath that followed. Amanda breaks down what was said in court and challenges how justice is defined in Canada.You’ll hear:• The 11 mitigating factors presented by the defence• Why claims of remorse, addiction, and “first offence” status are so complex• How Alcohol Use Disorder was treated in sentencing• The role of media coverage—and whether public awareness is considered punishment• How sentencing principles like deterrence and denunciation are applied• Why precedent and parity may be reinforcing a system that isn’t workingAmanda also explores four different types of justice—procedural, distributive, retributive, and restorative—and asks whether any of them were truly achieved.Even when the system works exactly as designed, does it actually deliver justice?If sentencing is meant to deter impaired driving and send a message that this behaviour is unacceptable, this episode asks a difficult question:If it’s working… why is this still happening?This is not just about one case. It’s about what we accept, and what needs to change.Content Note: This episode discusses impaired driving, traumatic loss, and grief. Listener discretion is advised.What you Can Do:Share this episode. Talk about impaired driving. Intervene when you see it. Call 911 if needed.Real change starts with uncomfortable conversations.REFERENCESR. c. Walsh, 2005https://www.canlii.org/fr/qc/qccq/doc/2005/2005canlii10072/2005canlii10072.htmlGovernment of British Columbia. Alcohol and drug related driving prohibitions and suspensionshttps://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/roadsafetybc/prohibitions/alcoholNorthcote, J. & Livingston, M. (2011)“Accuracy of Self-Reported Drinking”https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agr138Celestine, N. (2020) Prosocial Behaviorhttps://positivepsychology.com/prosocial-behavior/PIHL Law Corp. Drunk Driving Not Just a Criminal Problemhttps://pihl.ca/drunk-driving-not-just-a-criminal-problem/Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO)https://iiobc.ca/media/iio-concludes-investigation-into-a-july-2023-motor-vehicle-incident-in-burnaby-2023-201/Nesbit, Ben. CTV Newshttps://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/she-would-be-furious-this-is-how-her-life-ended-mother-of-woman-killed-in-crash-with-suspected-impaired-driver-speaks-out/RCMP Press Releasehttps://bc-archives.rcmp.ca/ViewPage641e.htmlNesbitt, Ben. CTV News (Guilty Plea)https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/man-pleads-guilty-in-impaired-crash-that-killed-woman-in-burnaby-bc/Maragos, Demetra. CTV News (Sentencing)https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/parents-worst-nightmare-victims-mother-speaks-at-sentencing-for-fatal-bc-crash/Steacy, Lisa & Maragos, Demetra. CTV News (Sentence Outcome)https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bc-man-sentenced-to-4-years-in-prison-for-crash-that-killed-woman/Government of Canada. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedomshttps://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/Criminal Code of Canada, s. 718.2(b)https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-718.2.htmlWikipedia. Justicehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JusticeKruse Law. Sentencing for Manslaughter in Canadahttps://www.kruselaw.ca/blog/sentencing-for-manslaughter/Government of Canada. Recidivism Among Impaired Drivershttps://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2011CanLIIDocs627