WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg man will have to wait until next month to learn his fate for a 2009 fatal hit and run while he was out on bail on an impaired driving charge.
38-year old Roop Dhaliwal faced a judge Wednesday, to be sentenced for fleeing the scene of the crash that killed 19-year old Melissa Ranville, and driving without a license.
He pleaded guilty to the charges last month.
Court heard, on August 14, 2009, Dhaliwal was driving down Sheppard Street when he hit Ranville, driving over her and dragging her body before he fled the scene.
Ranville’s family and friends were in court and in an exclusive interview with Global News say time has not healed their pain.
“this should not have happened, he shouldn’t have been driving in the first place,” said Janet Delorme, Ranville’s mother.
The Crown is asking for 2 years in jail while the Defence wants 5 to 12 months of house arrest which would include Dhaliwal prohibited from leaving Canada and staying away from alcohol.
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“That’s just, I can’t believe that.” said Janet, “that’s just not right.”
“2 years is good enough,” said John Delorme, “and the whole 2 years.”
The Judge has reserved her decision for the middle of May.
Ranville was found on the street by a passerby after the 2009 collision and died in hospital.
Dhaliwal was out on bail at the time. Three months earlier in May, he was arrested for impaired driving and failing to stop at an accident.
He was prohibited from driving and in early August was arrested for breaching that condition and released on bail.
10 days later, while driving without a license, he hit and killed Ranville.
Police arrested Dhaliwal at his home on Leila Avenue four days later, and charged him with failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, driving while disqualified, and two counts of failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance.
In a police statement, Dhaliwal admitted fault but also said,”he was not the only one at fault.”
There are no sidewalks and Ranville was walking on the road wearing dark clothes, court heard.
He was granted bail while awaiting sentencing Wednesday.
Defence Lawyer Sheldon Pinx said the crash has had a significant impact on his client and his family and that he’s remorseful saying, “this was an accident that could have happened to anyone.”
In Court, Dhaliwal, was surrounded by his parents and sibling from Calgary, his wife and two young children, and an interpreter who translated what was said.
He and his family immigrated to Canada in 1997 from India and works as a Janitor in Winnipeg.
Through tears, Dhaliwal stood up and read an apology, saying; “I’d like to ask for forgiveness from her parents and family, I am very very sorry. I will never ever forget it for all my life. Please forgive me.”
On the other side of the courtroom, the victim’s family could be heard crying as horrific details of the crash came out.
They say they’re not ready to forgive, but look forward to when the sentencing is over so they can finally heal.
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