Judge grants bail to man convicted of impaired driving causing death on Hwy 12 in 2020
Warning: Content in this article may be distressing for readers.
Sigfrid Stahn walked out of the Barrie courthouse Friday a remorseful man one day after a jury found him guilty of impaired driving, causing a collision on Highway 12 in July 2020 that killed a 77-year-old Midland man.
"I'm sorry it turned out this way. But there's nothing I can do about it now," Stahn said.
Justice Michael McKelvey gave the 71-year-old Georgian Bay Township man a reprieve, ordering him to remain on bail for now.
Stahn claims to have no memory of what happened nearly three years ago when he crashed his pickup truck head-on into Guenter Naumann's convertible Mercedes, saying he learned the details during the two-week trial.
"I had to find out what actually happened. I had no recollection," he said.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
A pickup truck and convertible car are pictured after a deadly head-on collision on Highway 12 in Waubaushene, Ont., on July 4, 2020. (Source: OPP/Court Exhibit)
Witnesses testified Stahn's pickup truck was swerving in and out of traffic in Waubaushene before slamming into the victim's car, sending it airborne.
One officer told the jury of seven men and five women Naumann had little to no time to react to Stahn's oncoming truck as it came around a curve.
The Crown said Stahn chose to drive drunk and caused the "senseless head-on collision."
Naumann's widow sat in the courtroom daily, hoping for justice for her husband of 28 years.
"He'd be proud that I was here for him," said Rejeanne Lachapelle on Thursday following the verdict. "I'll always miss him."
Guenter Naumann, 77, is pictured in this undated photo. (Source: Legacy.com)
The Crown said it would seek a lengthy sentence behind bars for Stahn, citing his previous impaired driving conviction 38 years ago, along with a failure to remain at the scene of a crash in his 20s and a careless driving conviction in 2005.
Stahn surrendered his driver's licence following the guilty verdict and is banned from driving as he gets his affairs in order at home before going into custody.
He will remain out on bail until at least his sentencing hearing on May 31.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
Paris dazzles with a rainy Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.