Sincere remorse and thorough rehabilitation allowed a repentant drug dealer to avoid a long prison sentence. Verne Manhertz is sentenced to 33 months in prison for killing a young mother with his vehicle during a drug deal.
Posted at 4:45 p.m.
Amanda Bradley’s death was “tragic and very sad,” Judge David-Emmanuel Simon told a crowd of families of the accused and the victim in a crowded room at the Montreal courthouse on Wednesday.
Surprisingly, the death of the 30-year-old mother of two children was not reported in the media. On the evening of August 14, 2020, Amanda Bradley met with Verne Manhertz to buy drugs on Rodney Street in Pointe-Claire, west Montreal. According to witnesses, a conflict broke out between the two.
For an unknown reason, Amanda Bradley climbed onto the hood of the defendant’s vehicle and clung to one of the sides. The vehicle starts with a bang. The woman falls 52 meters further violently to the ground. She died alone in hospital three days later due to the COVID-19 restrictions. A nightmare for those close to him.
Verne Manhertz leaves the crime scene without helping the victim, believing she was “fine”. A few minutes later he closes another drug deal. A few days later, he was arrested in possession of three cell phones and 11 types of drugs, including cocaine and “crystal meth.” He was on two suspended sentences at the time.
In April 2022, the 39-year-old Montreal native pleaded guilty to dangerous driving resulting in death and drug trafficking. The crown demanded a six-year prison sentence, including four and a half years for dangerous driving. The defense asked for only one year in prison.
The judge cited a long list of aggravating factors, including the context of drug trafficking and the defendant’s escape, who “never called 911.” The judge also refers to the numerous previous convictions of the accused and the dramatic consequences for the relatives of the victim.
“By accelerating with the victim on the hood, Mr. Manhertz caused death [de la victime]. However, this gesture was unintentional and spontaneous in an unexpected context. Mr. Manhertz had no control over the actions of the victim, who volunteered to be on the hood of his vehicle,” the judge analyzed.
Verne Manhertz’s sincere remorse and the rehabilitation that had already begun convinced the judge to advocate a lighter sentence. Since 2020, the defendant has actually changed his life. He left the criminal world, went to psychotherapy and worked as an electrician. The judge said his risk of recidivism was low.
The judge concludes that the appropriate sentence is 18 months for the narcotics offense and two years for dangerous driving. However, this sentence of three and a half years is “too long” and could “endanger Verne Manhertz’s progress,” according to the judge. He therefore imposed a total sentence of 33 months in custody and no driving ban.
Anik Archambault represented the crown while Christian Gauthier defended the accused.