Chad Curtis had a message for the 21-year-old man who pleaded responsible in an impaired driving case and was sentenced Friday for operating over and killing Curtis’s son on a St. Thomas, Ont., sidewalk nearly two years in the past.
“It is about time he will get to pay for his crime, as a result of me and my household have been paying the entire time,” stated Curtis. “We’re gonna endure for the remainder of our lives, and this boy has a possibility to repair his.”
Curtis’s son Aiden, 11, was killed after Nicholas Lemke’s pickup left the highway, jumped the curb and bumped into a bunch of pedestrians strolling on the sidewalk. The collision occurred on the intersection of Talbot and Inkerman streets moments after Aiden and the group of buddies and adults he was strolling with had purchased ice cream cones on July 3, 2023.
Curtis spoke exterior the courthouse Friday, moments after Lemke was sentenced to 6 years in jail on one depend of impaired driving inflicting dying and two counts of impaired driving inflicting bodily hurt.
Choose Glen Donald of the Ontario Courtroom of Justice sentenced Lemke for a “egocentric collection of offences” that took one younger life and injured 4 different folks — one woman was left with life-altering accidents, whereas three different pedestrians have been handled for non-life-threatening accidents.
The court docket heard that on the time of the collision, Lemke was impaired and had a blood alcohol content material of 140 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, near double the authorized restrict of 80 mg per 100 mL.
The sentencing breaks down as follows:
5½ years for impaired driving inflicting dying. Six months for impaired driving inflicting bodily hurt. 90 days on the second depend of impaired driving inflicting bodily hurt.
The primary two sentences can be served consecutively; the ultimate depend was served concurrently.
The sentence additionally features a 10-year driving ban.
The Crown had been searching for a sentence of six to eight years of whole jail time and a 10-year-driving ban. The defence had requested a jail sentence of three years.
Donald stated whereas there have been mitigating elements, Lemke needed to obtain a sentence that is acceptable for his actions.
“Mr. Lemke’s egocentric actions left a baby deceased and brought on nice hurt” to different folks, the choose stated. “Nobody can be glad with this sentence. What has been misplaced on account of these offences has been misplaced without end.”
Aiden’s father, Chad Curtis, centre, is supported by household as he leaves the St. Thomas courthouse following the sentencing of Nicholas Lemke on Friday. (Andrew Lupton/ Ontario Chronicle)
Lemke had been out on bail because the proceedings wound their approach via court docket.
Donald stated he thought of plenty of mitigating elements within the sentencing, together with Lemke’s age — he was 19 on the time of the crash. He additionally famous Lemke had a historical past of psychological well being points that he had sought assist for earlier than the crash, however was unable to get correct remedy.
“He have to be given credit score for his efforts to handle his psychological well being points,” stated Donald.
As different mitigating elements, Donald famous Lemke has an affordable prospect of rehabilitation, and has expressed regret, pleaded responsible and had no felony file previous to the collision.
On the steps of the Elgin County Courthouse after sentencing, Aiden’s mom, Sarah Payne, stated a harsher sentence would have despatched a stronger message.
“If they begin giving life sentences, then possibly folks will cease consuming and driving,” Payne stated.
