EDMONTON – Sage Morin, the mother of a toddler who died when a vehicle crashed into the patio of a southwest Edmonton restaurant in May 2013, read a victim impact statement in court Tuesday. She spoke directly to the man who pleaded guilty to refusing to provide a breath sample after the deadly crash.
Two-year-old Geo Mounsef died after he was pinned against a wall after a vehicle approached a parking spot, went through a plate-glass divider, and hit a table. Geo’s parents and a restaurant employee were injured.
The sentencing hearing for Richard Suter, 65, began Monday in Edmonton. He was charged with impaired driving causing death, three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm and refusing to give a breath sample where death occurred. The impaired driving charges are expected to be withdrawn at the end of this week’s sentencing hearing.
“Mr. Suter was not drunk,” claimed Dino Bottos, Suter’s lawyer. “He had only a few drinks that day and only a drink about an hour before the incident, but he was not impaired by alcohol.”
Geo’s family has said they believe Suter was impaired that day.
READ MORE: Sentencing begins for Edmonton man involved in crash that killed toddler
On Tuesday, Geo’s mother brought a framed photo of her son, and read her victim impact statement. She told the court about a little boy who loved books and dinosaurs.
Morin explained her family went to Ric’s Grill to celebrate Geo’s potty training success and his younger brother’s five-month birthday.
They chose a table in the sun. Morin said she was going to sit where Geo was sitting. Now, it’s a decision she regrets every day.
“I will always live my life wondering why it was him when it should have been me.”
She said the family had ordered dinner and was about to make a toast when everything changed.
“At that moment, we felt like we had it all.”
Morin told court she looked up, saw the SUV and sensed danger. She remembered looking at Geo. He was smiling.
“You hit me so hard that it knocked my shoes right off,” Morin told Suter in court. “But I didn’t feel anything.”
She said she saw her son pinned under the SUV.
“I refused to believe what I already knew. He was dead. Suddenly the lights went out. The world went dark.”
In closing, she looked at Suter and said: “In the end, all I ask of you is to look at yourself.
“Think of the example you set for your children, your grandchildren… You will always know the truth,” said Morin.
“This is your cross to bear.”
Video showed Suter parked in front of Ric’s Grill at 142 Street and 23 Avenue, before he accelerated and then reversed several metres.
Seventeen victim impact statements were read Tuesday morning. Another six are expected to be given Tuesday afternoon.
Suter is scheduled to testify Wednesday morning.
The maximum penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample where death occurred is a life sentence.
With files from The Canadian Press
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