Jail time for Saskatchewan woman who ran over man with car

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A northern Saskatchewan woman has been sentenced to 26 months in jail for running over and killing a man.

Danielle Chamakes, 22, was convicted last fall of dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.

On Sept. 19, 2010, Chamakese left a bar in Prince Albert and hit 21-year-old Daniel Carter.

Court heard Chamkese, of Pelican Lake, did not have a valid driver’s license at the time due to a suspension after two previous accidents and had hit a car in the parking lot before hitting Carter.

Before her sentence was handed down Tuesday, Chamakese apologized to Carter’s family, admitted she did wrong and said she hoped for forgiveness one day.

Justice R.S. Smith recommended Chamakese be considered to serve time at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in Maple Creek, Sask.

The federal prison says on its website that the lodge is for aboriginal women. It says the environment is comparable to that of a minimum-security facility and convicts live in residential houses with their children.

It also says that it offers services and programs that reflect aboriginal culture in a space that incorporates aboriginal peoples’ traditions and beliefs.

“I respectfully submit to the officials that Ms. Chamakese would benefit from that program and may well prove an asset for other prisoners in the program,” Smith said.

Smith said while he can mete out the law, he can’t “fill the void in your lives by reason of Daniel’s loss.”

Outside court, Carter’s mother Karen Anthony-Burns and his stepfather Robert Burns said they now have to move on.

“I always want him to know that we’re constantly thinking of him, he’s always in our heart and we certainly know we’ll never forget him,” Karen said through tears, holding her son’s photo.