Sentencing delay for man who caused 2024 Boxing Day crash that killed child - BERITAJA

It was incredibly affectional successful a Calgary courtroom connected Wednesday, erstwhile much than a twelve group publication unfortunate effect statements during a sentencing proceeding for 31-year-old Duane Nepoose.

He was progressive successful a deadly Boxing Day clang adjacent Macleod Trail and Southland Drive successful 2024.

A young girl, nine-year-old Victoria Desjardin, was killed successful the clang and her mother and sister were severely injured.

In June of 2025, Nepoose pleaded blameworthy to vulnerable cognition of a conveyance causing death, arsenic good arsenic 3 counts of vulnerable cognition of a conveyance causing bodily harm, robbery and formation from police.

During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, the girl’s mother, Amanda Reitmeier, said of emotion helpless and incapable to protect her children while she was lying successful a infirmary furniture pinch 1 girl successful a coma and the different who had passed distant successful the crash.

“I americium broken. I americium mad. I americium sad. I americium numb,” she told the court.

Reitmeier besides said to Nepoose saying “I will ne'er forgive you. This was not an accident. This was a crime.”

Victoria’s grandfather told the tribunal “When I spot children playing aliases stepping together, I outcry because that could beryllium Victoria.”

Following the position of effect statements, the adjacent measurement is expected to beryllium for the judge to enforce a condemnation but that was group complete for a later day — an upsetting hold for the victim’s family and friends.

“We person been waiting for much than a twelvemonth for this time and hold aft hold aft hold pinch nary 1 taking into relationship the affectional wellbeing of this family,” said Kelsey Morash, a family friend and end-of-life specialist. “It does look to favour the accused.”

The Crown is seeking a condemnation of betwixt 8.5 and 9.5 years successful prison.

The defence has not yet indicated what its proposal will be, but did bespeak to the tribunal that the 2 sides are acold isolated successful position of sentencing recommendations.