CORNWALL, Ontario – In June 2017 Robert Cadieux lost his wife Kristine when their vehicle was struck on Hwy. 401 by Felix Laframboise, 20, of Saint-Hubert, Quebec.
Laframboise was charged with and pleaded guilty to careless driving and was fined $2,000 in court Jan. 9.
Robert Cadieux however, was not informed of the trial date, and did not get to give a victim impact statement. Cadieux also claims that the proceedings were seriously flawed.
“They gave him the minimum sentence,” Cadieux said.
Under the law, there was also the option to suspend Laframboise’s license and the possibility of him serving jail time. Neither of these things were requested by the Crown Attorney’s office.
“This happens right across the country,” said Cadieux. “They give the minimum sentence to get it over with as quickly as possible.”
Cadieux wants an investigation done of the Laframboise hearing. He alleges that the Crown made a serious error in not asking that the man’s license be suspended. Cadieux also alleges that there were serious errors in the transcript made by the judge and the Crown during the proceedings. He admits that because he was not allowed to be present during the hearing, he cannot verify if what is in the court transcripts is accurate.
The Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed to Seaway News in a statement that the Crown Attorney’s office would be appealing the sentence.
“I can advise that it is the Crown’s intention to appeal the sentence and to request that it be varied to include a license suspension” reads the statement from the Ministry of the Attorney General. “Further, the Crown will be requesting that the Court receive Victim Impact evidence. The Crown has initiated the appeal in accordance with the Provincial Offences appeal process.”
Cadieux said that he will be at the appeal, along with a new group he has formed called V.O.I.C.E. which stands for Victim of Injustice Changing Everything.
Cadieux found other family members who feel similarly wronged by the justice system and has formed a group that has quickly grown nationwide.
After the appeal in the Laframboise case, V.O.I.C.E. plans on going to Fort McMurray to raise awareness at a similar court proceeding from June 18 to 21.
“We are going to win a lot of respect just by showing up,” he said. “We are not going to sit back anymore.”
The Laframboise appeal will be heard at the Cornwall Courthouse on Second St. W. on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
