Judge Michelle Brass is scheduled to deliver a decision in March after hearing arguments from lawyers.
Brandon Harder
Regina Leader-Post
Shauntae Sunkawasti has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a senior while driving drunk, as well as breaching a release condition.
Now, the 24-year-old Regina woman awaits a sentencing decision by provincial court Judge Michelle Brass.
According to the facts of the case, which were read into court Tuesday by prosecutor Derek Davidson, it was around 2:23 p.m. on May 13, 2024 that an SUV driven by Sunkawasti was travelling at a high rate of speed eastbound on 7th Avenue in Regina. It struck 75-year-old Donald Thibault as he was trying to cross the road at a crosswalk near Albert Community School.
Thibault was pronounced dead at the scene, Davidson said.
Sunkawasti, who remained on scene, told officers she’d been drinking prior to the incident.
Davidson noted for the court that breath samples indicated her blood alcohol level was well beyond the legal limit. He said crash data indicated that, five seconds before the fatal incident in a school zone, the SUV was travelling over 100 kilometres per hour.
Davidson tried to drive home the severity of the incident and the depth of the tragedy. He spoke of the woman’s level of intoxication, the vehicle’s high rate of speed, and the fact that the incident happened in a school zone during the afternoon as aggravating factors.
He noted that Sunkawasti was found in violation of her release order following the incident, when officers located her intoxicated.
“A message needs to be sent,” Davidson said, suggesting a three-year sentence should be coupled with a five-year driving prohibition.
He said the Crown’s position took into account Sunkawasti’s challenging personal history as an Indigenous person.
Davidson read a victim impact statement submitted by Thibault’s brother, who wrote that he is left feeling lonely and angry in the wake of what he termed a “preventable and senseless act.”
Sunkawasti’s lawyer Tyne Hagey argued for a sentence of two years plus one day, which means her client would serve in a federal institution where better programming is available. She also requested the court recommend Sunkawasti serve a portion of the sentence in a healing lodge.
With regard to the Crown’s suggestion of a driving prohibition, Hagey said she’s unsure if her client will ever drive again as she wears what happened very heavily.
The defence lawyer said her client knows she has a problem with alcohol, which she consumes as a way to cope.
Hagey said Sunkawasti has experienced emotional and physical trauma in her life and has significant Gladue factors (issues that can affect an Indigenous offender, which can include the impact of colonialism, residential schools, racism, poverty and addiction.)
The defence lawyer said her client has taken responsibility for the offence, which began with telling the truth to police.
When given a chance to speak, Sunkawasti offered an emotional apology to Thibault’s family, saying she understands the severity of what happened.
“I have to learn how to deal with that in a healthy way ’cause this is something that’s going to stick with me for the rest of my life.”
Brass scheduled a date in March to deliver her decision on sentence.
bharder@postmedia.com
