Jeremy Glenfield walked into court Monday intending to plead guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
He had the support of the Crown attorney, as well as that of the parents of Jeremy Huber – the 11-year-old boy who died after Glenfield crashed into the Hubers’ minivan.
Less supportive was Justice Peter Hambly, who called the plea deal “wholly inadequate” in the face of the evidence against the New Hamburg man.
“The whole plan doesn’t begin to address the seriousness of the offence,” Hambly said in court.
Glenfield faces charges of impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and other offences in relation to the December 2011 crash.
The Crown was willing to drop the impaired driving causing death charge in exchange for a guilty plea to the other offences, which was one of Hambly’s objections to the deal.
Court has heard that immediately prior to the crash, Glenfield ran a stop sign at Nafziger and Gerber roads.
Jeremy Huber was suffered serious head injuries as a result. On Christmas Eve – two days after the crash – he was taken off life support.
His father, Kevin Huber, testified that he didn’t hear tires squealing or anything else to warn him of Glenfield’s vehicle approaching.
Under the terms of the deal rejected by Hambly, Glenfield would remain out of custody until September, when he would be sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Through the Crown, the Huber family said that they forgive Glenfield for his actions and simply want the court case to be over.
Hambly called that sentiment “admirable,” but said he felt the need to continue the trial regardless of their forgiveness.
“This is a prosecution of the Crown, not a contest between the Hubers and the accused,” he said.
The case stands adjourned until later this week.
