In what a veteran judge called the most difficult case he had ever heard, a 20-year-old man was sentenced to four months behind bars for fleeing the scene of a crash that left a 29-year-old man dead.
Tanvir Padda, now 20, was behind the wheel of the vehicle that fatally struck Jordan Gillis in October 2013, in the area of Hazel Street and Austin Drive in Waterloo’s university district.
Padda – who left the area without stopping to help, and wasn’t arrested until nearly a month later – was found not to be criminally responsible for Gillis’ death.
He pleaded guilty last fall to failure to remain at the scene of a fatal collision.
Friday, a Kitchener courtroom was packed with family members of both men for Padda’s sentencing.
Padda’s lawyer read a letter on his client’s behalf.
In the letter, Padda called himself a “coward” and apologized to Gillis’ family for his actions.
“In that moment, I panicked and fled,” he said.
After the four-month sentence was delivered, Gillis’ mother – who, like the rest of her family, had travelled from Nova Scotia for the hearing – broke down in tears.
Outside the courthouse, brother Jonathan Gillis said he was disappointed in the decision.
“How do we repay my brother? We don’t feel as if the justice system is repaying him.”
“There’s no acknowledgement for my brother’s death.”
Justice Colin Westman acknowledged that Gillis’ family may not be entirely satisfied with the outcome of the case.
"If I was a victim I would not be embarrassed to say I'd want vengeance,” he told the court.
"But in a system of justice, we're not entitled to slip into vengeance.”
A second man remains before the courts in connection with the crash.
Teeg Singh was charged with accessory after the fact.
A judge is expected to rule next month on whether there is enough evidence against Singh for a trial to take place.
