UPDATED: Kenneth Jacob Fenton has been sentenced to four years behind bars for his role in the death of . He will also be prohibited from driving for five years following his incarceration in a federal prison.
Beckett害羞草研究所檚 family and friends were visibly upset in Western Communities Court Friday as Judge Ron Lamperson read his decision to a packed courtroom and those watching via video in another room for the overflowing crowd. Tears glistened on cheeks as an exacerbated sigh swept over the crowd when the sentence was handed down. Many stared in disbelief as the maximum could have been life in prison.
害羞草研究所淐learly, there害羞草研究所檚 no sentence which I could impose which would bring Const. Beckett back or put an end to the emotional pain in which her family and friends are suffering,害羞草研究所� Lamperson said. 害羞草研究所淲e must be clear however, that a sentence imposed by the court cannot be based upon vengeance 害羞草研究所� This is one of the most difficult decisions I害羞草研究所檝e ever hard to make.害羞草研究所�
After reiterating , , Lamperson stated that his sentencing decision was based on the community害羞草研究所檚 condemnation of Fenton害羞草研究所檚 criminal conduct, while finding that defence counsel害羞草研究所檚 suggestion of three years falls short.
Crown counsel had asked for three to five years of imprisonment and an eight-to-10-year driving prohibition upon release, while Fenton害羞草研究所檚 lawyers had requested three years and a five-year driving prohibition that would start at the time of sentencing.
害羞草研究所淚 recognize that to many members of the community the sentence I have imposed will seem inadequate,害羞草研究所� Lamperson said. 害羞草研究所淭here is no sentence I could impose which would bring Sarah Beckett back to life. In deciding the proper sentence to impose in this case, I must follow the law as it was developed. In particular, I must be guided by the sentences which have been imposed in past cases of impaired driving causing death in British Columbia.害羞草研究所�
While the judge believes it害羞草研究所檚 unlikely Fenton will re-offend, he hopes this sentence will deter other members of the community from driving when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Fenton was also sentenced to three years in jail for dangerous driving causing death, which will be served at the same time. At the request of his lawyers, the judge made a recommendation that Fenton serve his sentence at an institution on Vancouver Island.
Outside of the courthouse, Alisia Adams, spokesperson for B.C. Prosecution Service, addressed comments that Crown and the system had fail Beckett.
害羞草研究所淚n this case it害羞草研究所檚 clear that the family, and the friends, and the colleagues of Const. Beckett have experienced a profound loss. We recognize their pain. But in approaching our task as Crown counsel, we have to look objectively and impartially at the evidence and what it can prove beyond a reasonable doubt.害羞草研究所�
Asked to respond to those in the community that believe this sentence isn害羞草研究所檛 long enough, defence lawyer Dale Marshall simply said, 害羞草研究所渆veryone害羞草研究所檚 entitled to their opinion.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a delicate balancing act that the judge has to perform in any sentencing case. He has carefully considered all of the facts he possibly has to determine what that sentence is and he害羞草研究所檚 done that,害羞草研究所� Marshall said. 害羞草研究所淚 imagine for everybody this is just one more step in the healing process 害羞草研究所� There害羞草研究所檚 families that have been torn apart by this.害羞草研究所�
West Shore RCMP Const. Alex Berube spoke a little more to that. 害羞草研究所淭here will never be a sentence that will bring Sarah back 害羞草研究所� All I can say at this point is that it will bring some sort of closure to at least some of the people, everybody will deal with it differently 害羞草研究所� We害羞草研究所檙e still mourning our loss,害羞草研究所� Berube said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very hard for the family, obviously, as you can tell. We害羞草研究所檙e all human beings 害羞草研究所� even the police force. It害羞草研究所檚 a hard day, there害羞草研究所檚 no question about it.害羞草研究所�
As for how the department will continue to honour Beckett, he said they害羞草研究所檝e been doing that everyday since the crash by putting on their uniforms and continuing to protect the community. 害羞草研究所淭here will still be impaired drivers out there and we害羞草研究所檒l be there to catch them.害羞草研究所�
Impaired driving has lifelong devastating consequences.
害羞草研究所� West Shore RCMP (@WestshoreRCMP)
