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Conditional Sentence for B.C. Man Convicted of Dangerous Driving During Indigenous March
A man from British Columbia, who was found guilty of dangerous driving after hitting several participants in a march dedicated to residential school survivors, has received a sentence that allows him to remain in the community rather than serving time in prison.
Richard Manuel was convicted in September following an incident that took place on June 4, 2022, during a procession in Mission, B.C., where he struck four individuals with his pickup truck.
On Monday, B.C. Provincial Court Judge Edna Ritchie agreed to a joint recommendation from both the Crown and defense, resulting in a nine-month conditional sentence. This arrangement permits Manuel, who has relocated to Nova Scotia, to serve his sentence within the community. Additionally, he faces a one-year driving ban across Canada.
In her judgment, Ritchie highlighted Manuel’s rush to drive through the march, indicating a lack of patience that led to his reckless actions. The incident not only resulted in physical injuries but also had a significant emotional impact on the victims involved.
During the trial, it was noted that Manuel made use of racial slurs and derogatory comments toward those participating in the march. Ritchie emphasized the serious effects on the victims while stating that Manuel continued his dangerous driving despite attempts made to stop him.
Victim Impact and Sentencing Reflections
Judge Ritchie reflected on Manuel’s character, noting her belief that he is not inherently bad but lamented his actions on that day. “I’m satisfied Mr. Manuel is not a completely bad person,” she stated. “But Mr. Manuel, you acted very badly that day.”
Earlier in the proceedings, Manuel expressed regret about the incident, although Ritchie conveyed uncertainty regarding the genuineness of his remorse, questioning whether he was more upset about the consequences he faced rather than the harm caused to the victims.
Several mitigating factors were considered during sentencing; Manuel has no prior criminal record and did not evade law enforcement following the incident. His age and a lack of subsequent offenses were also taken into account. Manuel’s lawyer, Christopher Terepocki, characterized the event as uncharacteristic behavior for his client, asserting that he does not hold any racist beliefs.
The Crown presented victim impact statements from several attendees who were struck during the march, illustrating the long-lasting effects of the incident. Ashton Edwards, one of the march organizers, reported feelings of fear that prevented him from planning similar events since the incident due to concerns over safety. Another victim, Troy Zelasko, indicated he lost employment opportunities due to the traumatic experience, while Jeremy Kaastra shared feelings of vulnerability related to his Indigenous identity and the broader implications on his mental health.
Kaastra expressed frustration outside the courthouse regarding Manuel’s sentence, questioning the fairness of the outcome. “In the end is he truly remorseful? You heard the judge say it herself: ‘I am not truly convinced you are remorseful for this.’ And he still gets to go home. Dude if I plowed through a crowd of people, you know what the different story would be,” he stated.
The sentence requires Manuel to adhere to a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the initial six months and prohibits him from consuming drugs or alcohol.
Source
globalnews.ca