Closing arguments, Pardi reckless driving case: verdict date set

A distraught mother left the Valleyfield, Que., courthouse in tears on Thursday.

“Brandon Pardi deserves to go to prison for what he did,” said Nadine Leduc, mother of three-year-old Bianca Leduc, who was struck and killed by Pardi.

The young man faces charges of reckless driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death.

The latter carries a maximum life sentence.

Closing arguments in the case were heard Thursday.

Justice Michel Mercier said a verdict will be announced Dec. 9.

“We’re anxious for this to end,” said Leduc.

She told reporter Domenic Fazioli she’s confident the judge will rule in their favour.

“It was not an accident, no matter what he says,” she said.

No winners 

It’s a case which many say, no matter the outcome, will have no winners.

On Halloween day in 2007, 18-year-old Pardi drove his vehicle onto the front yard of a home in Ile-Perrot.

He ran over and killed the toddler instantly.

The little girl had been hanging Halloween decorations with her babysitter at the time of the crash.

During closing arguments on Thursday, Pardi’s lawyer told the court Bianca’s death was a tragic accident.

Distracted driver 

“My client was imprudent that day. He was distracted behind the wheel,” attorney Pierre Joyal argued. “Many people in this courtroom have had accidents.”

Crown prosecutor Joey Dubois described Pardi as a “negligent driver”.

“He chose to drive fast, he chose to answer a ringing cell phone at that moment,” he told the court.

Dubois reminded Justice Mercier that an accident reconstruction expert concluded Pardi was driving his Volkwagen Golf at around 72 kilometres an hour in a 30km zone.

The co-accused in the case, a 17-year-old minor who can’t be identified, was acquitted of the same charges earlier this year.

Earlier in the trial, Pardi took the stand in his own defence.

He said he lost sight of the friend he was following as he turned on to des Érables Blvd., on Île Perrot.

He accidentally shifted his car into third gear instead of first at a stop sign and was left behind.

Cell phone to blame 

His cell phone rang as he was trying to catch up to his friend’s Pontiac Sunfire. He told the court that he reached down to grab his phone and check the number.

 
That moment of distraction would forever change his life.

“All I remember is looking up and I knew I wouldn’t have time to stop. I knew I would hit him from behind,” Pardi had told the court.

The 21-year-old testified that he swerved to avoid the crash but the cars collided anyway. He said he didn’t know if he hit the gas or the brake.

Pardi’s Volkswagen Golf struck and dragged Bianca as she stood on the lawn of her babysitting’s home. The toddler was stuck under the wheels of the vehicle.

“I hit my head. I blacked out. Next thing I knew I woke up and my car was on the grass,” Pardi testified. “I heard the babysitter screaming. I didn’t know I had hit anyone.”

Learner’s permit 

Pardi had his learner’s permit on Oct. 31, 2007. He turned 18 that day.

He told the court he decided to take his brother’s car around the block because it was understood he would be given the vehicle for his birthday, although those plans were not set in stone.

“I knew I wasn’t supposed to be driving. I shouldn’t have taken the car,” he told the court. “It was my 18th birthday, I wanted to get one more drive out of it before my dad put it away for the winter.”

Pardi testified he had driven the standard-shift Golf with his parents and brother about 15 times before the accident, and said he felt comfortable behind the wheel.
His parents confirmed in their testimony that Pardi seemed to be a competent driver.

Pardi cried on the stand, testifying he was sorry for what happened, that he will live with the tragedy for the rest of his days and that he would give his life if it would bring the little girl back.

With files from Global Montreal reporters Domenic Fazioli and Lisa Fiset.