A B.C. woman will spend six months in jail for a crash in 2008 that claimed a young man’s life.
22-year-old Kaitlyn Ruth Smith pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death on Wednesday and was sentenced Friday morning to six months in prison followed by two years probation.
18-year-old Jesse Bulford was killed when the car he and four others were travelling in rolled along 13th street, near Hardieville back on October 18th, 2008.
Smith, originally from Nelson, was behind the wheel at the time and according to a neuropsychologist suffered a severe brain injury with minimal chance of a full recovery.
She was originally acquitted of charges against her in 2010 but the crown appealed.
Smith and her family were both visibly upset in court following the ruling Friday.
Smith’s attorney, Ingrid Hess, tells Global News she had hoped the judge would find a sentencing that didn’t involve incarceration.
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“I’m saddened that that’s what our society says we have to do to someone who’s suffered a consequence that she has, not withstanding the nature of the crime because it’s in my view a very unique set of circumstances,” she adds.
The judge says he took Smiths condition, the fact she had no criminal or driving record prior to the crash, and her remorse into account in make his decision.
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He adds, of course harm done to the victim’s family was also vital in his sentencing.
Crown prosecutor Erin Olsen says she believes the judge put careful analysis into his decision.
“One man died unnecessarily and a young woman is permanently brain injured. It’s satisfying that the case iat a close especially for Jesse Bulford’s family but I wouldn’t call this no matter the outcome, a victory in any sense of the word,” she says.
Olsen says if nothing else, she hopes the outcome will send a clear message to anyone getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
“You don’t just risk killing the passengers or someone on the street, but you may just hurt yourself. There was a terrible outcome for Kaitlyn Smith through all of this and we can’t have anything but sympathy for the situation she and her family find themselves in,” she adds.
Smith was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service and is prohibited of operating a motor vehicle for five years.
The two other charges against Smith, impaired driving causing death and driving with a blood alcohol level over .08 were withdrawn Friday.
Smith is to report to the Lethbridge Correctional Centre on January 21st.
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