Driver in 2019 dangerous driving crash offers apology as Crown seeks jail sentence
An Aurora man convicted of refusing to provide a breath sample and dangerous driving causing bodily harm in a crash five years ago offered an apology to the family during a sentencing hearing on Friday.
Gianmarco Di Luciano, 40, was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving in the Christmas Day crash in 2019 in Vaughan.
Last November, a jury found Di Luciano not guilty of those charges.
The court heard Di Luciano's vehicle was travelling 120km/h in a 60 zone seconds before it ran a light that had been red for 11 seconds. His vehicle collided with an SUV carrying members of the Abdulla family, including 67-year-old Clarice Abdulla, who passed away weeks later from complications with her lungs.Clarice Abdulla, 67, was hospitalized with serious injuries after a collision in Vaughan, Ont., on Dec. 25, 2019. (Supplied)
"Since the accident, not a day goes by without feeling horrible for each and every one of the members of the Abdulla family," Di Luciano said.
Justice Cary Boswell ultimately convicted the Aurora man of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and refusing to provide a breath sample.
Di Luciano maintains he wasn't impaired, but witnesses said he was driving recklessly, swerving around vehicles and crossing into oncoming traffic.
The defence told the court Di Luciano's alcohol consumption played zero role in the crash and can't be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing. It seeks a two-year conditional sentence to be served in the community, followed by probation and a two-year driving ban.
The Crown wants a sentence of three and a half to four years behind bars, telling the court "come hell or high water," Di Luciano wasn't going to provide a breath sample.
The prosecution added that Di Luciano "kept his blood-alcohol concentration hostage and what the true cause of the collision was."
"I stand here today tormented by the damage I caused to the Abdulla family," Di Luciano said in court on Friday. "I know that they are people of faith, and I pray that someday they will find it in their hearts to forgive me."
The Crown is also seeking an eight-year driving ban.
Sentencing is expected to be handed down in December.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Canada will be absolutely fine': Justin Trudeau, his ministers and Pierre Poilievre congratulate Donald Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet congratulated Donald Trump Wednesday morning on his second United States presidential election win, amid questions about how the federal government intends to navigate a second term.
What Donald Trump's election victory could mean for Canada
Following president-elect Donald Trump's decisive election victory, there are sure to be significant knock-on effects for Canada. Here's a look at the different areas in which a second Trump presidency may affect Canadians.
Kamala Harris concedes: Here's what she said in her speech
Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris conceded the U.S. election to Republican Donald Trump Wednesday afternoon, telling her supporters that her 'heart is full.'
Canada orders wind up of TikTok's Canadian business, app access to continue
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok's Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Newfoundland hockey player suspended, banned from local arena after off-ice fight with fan
A combination of a thrown stick and thrown punches have given a senior hockey player in Newfoundland a three-game suspension and an indefinite ban from one of his league's six arenas.
Controversial Australian Olympic breakdancer 'Raygun' retires from competition
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn has told a Sydney radio station that she plans to retire from competition just three months after her unconventional routine at the Paris Olympics led to her being ridiculed and spawned conspiracy theories about how she qualified for the Games.
Sleepy during the day? You may be at higher risk for a pre-dementia syndrome, study finds
If you find yourself sleepy during your daily activities in your older age, you may need to consider it more than an inconvenience — since the fatigue may indicate you’re at higher risk for developing a condition that can lead to dementia, a new study has found.
Kamala Harris made a historic dash for the White House. Here's why she fell short.
"Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we won't win," U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday in her concession speech.
Who won the popular vote? U.S. election vote totals from the past 40 years
Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency on Tuesday, and as of Wednesday morning, was also ahead in the popular vote. Historically, though, the candidate with the most votes hasn’t always won the contest.