Watch above: A judge has handed the woman responsible for the drunk driving crash that killed two young teens last year a six-year jail term. Meaghan Craig says one of the victims’ inconsolable mother screamed ‘you killed us again’ in response.
SASKATOON – It’s over. The drunk driver of a stolen truck that killed two 17-year-old teens on their way to track practice and seriously injured another has been sentenced.
Cheyann Peeteetuce received a six-year sentence in court on Friday. Peeteetuce has already served one year and eight months so time remaining to serve is essentially four years, four months.
A crushing blow for family and friends of James Haughey and Sarah Wensley as they felt the courthouse utterly distraught.
“That’s a joke, she killed two teenagers that didn’t have a chance to do what she did,” sobbed Karen Wensley, Sarah Wensley’s aunt.
“They didn’t get a chance to graduate high school, fall in love, have kids, get a career. She threw her life away and then she throws away two teenagers that didn’t even have a chance.”
In total, Peeteetuce pleaded guilty to seven charges including two counts of dangerous driving causing death stemming from a collision on May 5, 2014.
“This, this sentencing four years, four months to serve. She’s going out on parole in two-thirds of that and some of that time spent at a health and wellness centre down at Maple Creek, that’s our justice system,” said Sarah Wensley’s dad Dave, who was visibly upset outside the courthouse.
Watch below: Dashcam footage from a Saskatoon police cruiser on May 5, 2014. It shows a stolen vehicle pursuit which ends fatally on 22nd Street in Saskatoon.
During sentencing submissions on May 13 of this year, a dash cam recording from a police cruiser was played in front of the victim’s families for the first time. The four-minute video from May 5, 2014 showed the stolen truck speed off, crashing just seconds later at the intersection of 22nd Street West and Avenue M.
Peeteetuce behind the wheel as she drove a stolen truck, without a licence, into two vehicles while fleeing police, pinning one against the side of a building.
Inside the vehicle, Haughey and Wensley who were killed instantly, a third teen in the backseat by the name of Kara Mitsuing was seriously injured and sustained over 30 fractures.
“Our kids were killed by two Indian posse gang members, fleeing police in a stolen in vehicle that’s a fact,” said Wensley’s father.
READ MORE: Young offender gets 3 years for role in fatal stolen truck crash
Peeteetuce had been drinking that day with a blood alcohol level between .130 and .171.and is estimated to have blown through the intersection at 90 kilometres an hour in a 50 zone.
“Where’s our justice system, where is our justice? It’s weak, we’ve got a weak justice system,” said Wensley’s father, Dave.
“That’s ridiculous your honour,” said James Haughey’s father to the judge once the decision was read.
As Peeteetuce was led away, James Haughey’s mom Marilou was so inconsolable she could be heard screaming “karma will strike you!” to Peeteetuce as well as “you killed us again” before collapsing in the courtroom.
Watch below: Family finds courage to speak out after son’s death
The defence told media from the outset Peeteetuce has been remorseful and read a statement prepared by her client.
“This has been the hardest year and I just would like you to know I have prayed for your family, hoping that your pain will be eased by the creator’s loving mercy,” read Valerie Harvey, Peeteetuce’s lawyer.
“Please accept my heartfelt apology today. I am sincerely sorry.”
The crown in the case was seeking a 12-year sentence, the defence six years.
In handing down his sentence, the judge paid particular attention to Peeteetuce’s upbringing.
“I think that it certainly had an impact on the judge, as it should have,” said Harvey.
“How could she have been expected to put value on life when that’s something she was never show when she was growing up.”
Peeteetuce’s mother was an alcoholic and she watched her mother get beaten at the hands of her stepfather. She too experienced verbal and physical abuse by him and at one point he tried drowning Peeteetuce.
She quit high school in grade nine after having her first baby and often left the child with her mother for days at a time.
As part of his ruling, Justice Zarzeczny noted that since no one cared for Peeteetuce while she was growing up, it was not surprising that she did not have the opportunity to develop any parenting skills.
Shortly after the birth of her daughter, Peeteetuce starting using hard drugs and alcohol. She entered into a relationship with domestic violence and would lose her second child when he was just 10-month-old to an opiate overdose while the infant was allegedly in the care of his father’s parents.
Peeteetuce would begin selling herself to pay for drugs and joined the street gang known as the Indian Posse.
In the 25-page ruling, Justice Zarzeczny also noted Peeteetuce’s need to change. “If you do not make fundamental changes in your life, for which you must accept responsibility,” said the judge.
“You are at a high risk to re-offend in the next three years. Your personal risk assessment is at 92 per cent to re-offend.”
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