Eighteen months ago, Micheline Boisvert lost a son in a drunk driving accident.
On Thursday at a Laval, Que., courthouse, she had to relive those painful memories.
Every detail of the accident that killed her son, Leonardo Facchino, was made public as the driver’s preliminary hearing began.
Anthony Alfieri is charged with killing not one – but two – young people.
At times, it was too much for the mother to bear.
“That kid sat at my table to eat, he used to come to my house, he was supposedly a friend,” a teary Boisvert said of Alfieri.
Corinne Giambrona Gauthier and Leonardo Facchino were riding in Alfieri’s car when it slammed into a lamppost on Feb. 21, 2010.
The impact was so violent — the vehicle split in two.
The driver survived the crash – and according to police, he fled the scene- leaving his passengers to die.
To this day, Frank Facchino, Leonardo’s father, can’t understand why.
“I used to know this kid, the gesture he did, was so cowardly, I can’t explain it,” he said.
Witnesses to the accident testified on the first day of the inquiry.
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A publication ban prevents the media from reporting what they said in court.
Alfieri is facing eight charges, including multiple counts of impaired driving and criminal negligence.
If convicted, he faces years in jail.
In a similar case last week, Robert Belanger was sentenced to six years behind bars for running over and killing Ronia Mansourian.
“People like this should be taken off the road for life, that’s the only thing I should say, prison won’t do nothing, therapy won’t do nothing,” Frank Facchino said.
The goal of the preliminary inquiry is to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
If the judge gives the case the green light, Alfieri will likely face a jury in late 2012 or even 2013.
The victims’ families say they will follow the case to the end – and continue to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.
“To all the young guys out there, be careful, think twice,” Boisvert said.
With files from Global Montreal reporter Domenic Fazioli.
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