A Montreal man who drunkenly killed a 15-year-old girl during a wild race on Highway 40 in 2021 should face five years in prison, according to the Crown.
• Also read: Street racing on Highway 40: A driver is guilty of killing a 15-year-old girl
“It is this behavior of gross irresponsibility towards the lives of others that must be denounced,” Crown prosecutor Me Sylvie Dulude said during Francis Lawrence’s sentencing Friday morning at the Montreal courthouse
Last January, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty to causing the death of 15-year-old Veronica Gashi.
“She lost her life, but it is as if we have all stopped living with her death,” one of her sisters said in a letter read out in court.
On March 20, 2021, Francis Lawrence went to the Carrefour Laval for the first time, but the arrival of the police caused members of his group to leave. They therefore arranged to meet at another shopping center, this time in Pointe-Claire, where Lawrence consumed alcohol and cannabis.
The participants in the rally were again surprised by the agents. A group of motorists, including Lawrence, then drove onto Highway 40 and ran between motorists.
At around 6:30 p.m., witnesses saw the group driving at speeds between 160 km/h and 200 km/h, according to the agreed statement of facts.
“Driving a means of transport is a privilege […] “The defendant’s recklessness must be vigorously denounced,” Mr. Dulude said.
Multiple collisions
Then there was a first collision. When a driver who was attending one of the meetings saw this, he stopped to offer help. He then exited his vehicle while the teenage girl who accompanied him remained in the passenger seat.
There was a second collision here, this time involving Lawrence, in which one of the vehicles was thrown forward and crashed head-on into the vehicle in which the teenager was waiting. The latter had no chance.
Two female passengers in Lawrence’s vehicle were also injured in the collision.
“I am afraid every time I get into a car and I am wary of every person behind the wheel. The sound of an accelerating engine stresses me out even when I’m outside,” one of them testified.
Blood tests revealed Lawrence had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit.
Photo from court documents
“He says he has no memory of the crime. […] “He claims that he has never taken part in an event of this type, nor has he taken part in car racing, nor has he driven while impaired,” the report said before the verdict.
A statement that leaves judge Jean-Jacques Gagné “perplexed”.
Francis Lawrence did not testify at the sentencing. However, he will read out a letter of apology before the judge announces his sentence at a later date.
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