Family of man killed in Springwater hit-and-run speak out at sentencing hearing
Six months after being found guilty of a fatal hit and run in 2018 that claimed the life of Dominik Adamek in Springwater Township, Maimuna Baldeh heard from his grieving family, who told the court about the pain they've endured since that day.
"Our joy was cut short too soon," read the family's victim impact statement. "Our lives were permanently changed."
Adamek's mother told the court, "Part of my heart was ripped away on May 5 by Maimuna Baldeh."
She described burying her son on Mother's Day and how she brings flowers to his grave rather than receiving them from him.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
In November, Baldeh was convicted of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
The court heard the Newmarket woman was driving to work in Thornbury around 5 a.m. when she struck 27-year-old Adamek as he walked along Wilson Road after a night out with friends. He was roughly 2.5 kilometres from his home.
His body was found about an hour later by a passerby who called 911.
Dominik Adamek's shoe is shown lying on the ground on May 5, 2018, after he was fatally hit by a car. (Court exhibit)
During the two-week trial, Baldeh testified she didn't know what she hit that morning, saying she thought something might have fallen off the truck travelling in front of her, so she kept driving.
The court heard she called her boyfriend, who testified that she'd told him something had jumped in front of her that morning.
The Crown called her actions "morally reprehensible," arguing Baldeh fled the scene to avoid civil and criminal liability.
Following the hit and run, police and Adamek's family issued pleas for the person responsible to come forward.
No one ever did.
Baldeh was arrested and charged nine months after Adamek died.
On Thursday, following the victim impact statements, she addressed the courtroom, saying she would take back what had happened if she could.
"If I had just known that I had hit a person, I would've stayed there," she said. "I wasn't sure of what had happened."
She continued, "I truly feel what the family is going through because I can't imagine losing a loved one," adding, "I truly feel their pain, and I just wish that it never happened like this."
The Crown is seeking a five-year sentence to be accompanied by a driving prohibition.
The defence is seeking a conditional sentence of 18 to 20 months, including house arrest.
Sentencing is scheduled to be handed down early next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
LIVE UPDATES 'Hopefully it's better than what we're thinking': Jasper wildfire damage details anxiously awaited
Officials are waiting to learn Thursday morning the extent of wildfire damage in the Jasper townsite of Jasper National Park, which flames began to eat away at the night before.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500 million to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'