E. Burton

The offender pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene of a collision.

While impaired by fentanyl and other drugs, the offender struck a parked car, fled the scene, and subsequently caused a head-on collision while driving 122 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

The victim suffered life-threatening, life-altering injuries.

The court emphasized denunciation and general deterrence, rejecting a conditional sentence.

The offender was sentenced to a total of 33 months in penitentiary and a 3-year driving prohibition.

The Crown brought a pretrial motion to admit fingerprint evidence obtained during a prior investigation of a break-in for which the accused was previously acquitted.

The Crown argued the evidence was necessary for the narrative of the police investigation.

The court dismissed the motion, finding that the prejudicial effect of admitting evidence of prior discreditable conduct far outweighed its probative value, as it risked the jury engaging in impermissible propensity reasoning.

The court permitted the Crown to lead only a neutral statement regarding the reopening of the investigation.