A Langford man who pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing the death of West Shore RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett will be sentenced June 28 at the Colwood courthouse.
Beckett, a 32-year-old mother of two children, was killed on April 5, 2016, when her cruiser was struck by a pickup driven by Kenneth Jacob Fenton at Peatt Road and Goldstream Avenue.
Three other charges, including flight from police causing death, driving with a blood alcohol level over .08 and refusing to provide a blood sample, are expected to be stayed by the Crown at Fenton’s sentencing hearing. It’s also expected Crown and defence will present an agreed statement of facts to the court.
Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the B.C. Prosecution Service, said the maximum penalty for impaired driving causing death is life imprisonment. The maximum penalty for dangerous driving causing death is 14 years.
“It’s important to realize that sentencing decisions are based on the circumstances of the individual case, the relevant case law and the personal circumstances of an accused person,” McLaughlin said after Fenton pleaded guilty to the two charges.
It’s still not known whether a West Shore RCMP officer will face charges in connection with the crash that killed Beckett. In February, the Independent Investigations Office filed a report to the Crown “for consideration of charges” against a police officer.
The IIO statement said another RCMP officer tried to pull over the pickup before the collision. The driver of the truck did not stop and later collided with Beckett’s police car in the intersection, killing her.
When a decision is reached, the Criminal Justice Branch will make a public statement on its conclusion, McLaughlin said.
