Two years ago a local family buried a teenage daughter. Fifteen-year-old Taylor Theresa Brundige's life was cut short after a vehicle slammed into the car she was a passenger in.
Two years ago a local family buried a teenage daughter. Fifteen-year-old Taylor Theresa Brundige's life was cut short after a vehicle slammed into the car she was a passenger in. On Thursday, the young man charged in connection with the crash walked out of a Bonnyville courtroom a few dollars lighter and without a driver's licence.
The question as to whether justice was served in this case is not for us to ask. However, we are quite sure that we are among the many who will question if Taylor's memory was well served by this outcome.
Crown and defence entered the courtroom with agreement in hand. The accused, Keith Andrew MacDonald, would plead guilty to impaired driving in exchange for having the more serious charge of impaired driving causing death dropped. A short time later, MacDonald walked out of the same courtroom with a one-year driving suspension and a $1,500 fine - one could say it was $100 for every year of Taylor's life. MacDonald indicated he'd pay the bill in full that day. He walked away with the minimum punishment for the crime under the Criminal Code.
For the record, an impaired driving causing death conviction would likely have landed this young man in prison. But Judge Higgerty agreed with the joint submission of crown and defence that the evidence to proceed on this most serious charge was lacking. Thus, a guilty plea on the lesser charge of impaired driving was accepted and this brings us to where we are today.
Taylor's family was in court to hear the proceedings and while many of us may be stunned to hear the outcome of this case, they had an inkling of what was to come before they entered the courtroom. Taylor's mom, Tammy, told us Crown prosecutor Jeff Rudiak had alerted them the day before that the evidence was lacking to convict MacDonald on a charge of impaired driving causing death. But, she admits, they were "still hoping" something would change.
Judge Higgerty insisted he be able to read victim impact statements from Taylor's parents, young brother and sister, despite both the crown and defense suggesting it wasn't necessary given the guilty plea to the lesser charge. In essence, Taylor's death was not relevant to the charge being discussed.
Judge Higgerty told the courtroom it was important to keep emotions at bay when dealing with the law. He's right but it is difficult.
It was difficult to look at the beautiful, smiling face of Taylor on the Dec. 7, 2010 front page of the Bonnyville Nouvelle with the headline Remembering Taylor and not be consumed with emotion. It was difficult for parents and this community to bury a child. And two years later, it is difficult feeling the justice system in this case has forgotten the victim.
