Boyce sentenced to four years for crash that killed Petawawa teenager
Family of Emily Watts disappointed with verdict
By TINA PEPLINSKIE
Updated 6 months ago
Patricia Boyce, the woman responsible for the horrific death of Emily Watts, will spend the next four years behind bars.
Seventeen-year-old Emily died in a fiery car crash just metres away from her home, Sept. 10, 2009. She succumbed to the flames and smoke inside her vehicle as her parents stood by watching helplessly.
Emily's mother Joanne expressed disappointment after hearing the sentence handed down by Justice Robert Selkirk in Pembroke Wednesday.
She doesn't agree with the judge's assessment that Ms. Boyce's remorse was sincere.
"It's his decision and I guess we just have to deal with it," she said.
Emily's 15-year-old sister Melanie agreed.
"I think (Boyce) should have got a longer sentence," said the teen who celebrated her birthday alone for the first time this year. "I didn't think it was fair."
Melanie and Emily were more than sisters, they were best friends who shared everything, including the same Feb. 11 birthday, three years apart.
Emily's father Andrew seemed resigned to the jail term, which reflected a compromise between what defence lawyer Edwin Boeve was asking and Crown attorney Jason Nicol's push for six years.
"No amount of time will bring Em back," he said. "It would have been nice to send a more severe message to the community. I'm glad he (Justice Selkirk) spoke to the severity of the crime."
Present throughout the court proceedings along with the Watts and their supporters, were the accused's parents Marg and Jim Boyce.
The Boyces sat within the body of the courtroom listening to the evidence against their 29-year-old daughter, who the court heard was a source of frustration for them since her early teens.
The two families met Tuesday for the first time since the tragic accident.
Initially, Emily's aunt Lianne Marchant approached Ms. Boyce who was crying outside the courtroom. Ms. Watts recalled her sister asking her to speak with Ms. Boyce
"She was in tears and said she was very sorry for the loss of Emily," Ms. Watts said. "I accepted her apology because I don't want to hold a grudge."
Ms. Watts feels for the Boyces, who have custody of their daughter's six-year-old son.
The five-year sentence imposed by Justice Selkirk will be reduced to four years due to Ms. Boyce receiving credit for pre-sentence custody.
When released, she will be prohibited from driving for 10 years. Ms. Boyce will also be ban from owning and possessing weapons for 10 years and must provide a DNA sample.
The judge also recommended Ms. Boyce undergo a psychiatric assessment and participate in alcohol treatment.
He referred to the horrific details of the tragedy, calling it the senseless death of a young woman who loved life, and was full of potential.
"To the family thank you for your bravery and strength to give us a sense of the depth of your loss using your own words," the judge said. "The victim impact statements touched me and everyone who heard them. Your grief is overwhelming and I wish there was something I could do to help ease the pain, but I can only offer my condolences."
After spending 7 1/2 months in custody Ms. Boyce pleaded guilty to charges of impaired driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death in relation to the Sept. 10, 2009 crash.
That night she was behind the wheel of a Ford Escape when it slammed into the back of Emily's car as the teen waited to turn into the driveway of her family's Laurentian Drive home.
At the time Ms. Boyce's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.
After leaving her Dundonald Drive residence around 10 p.m., a number of witnesses observed Ms. Boyce's erratic driving for 7.4 kilo-metres along a number of residential streets, where she reached speeds more than twice the posted limit.
She was travelling between 122 and 128 km/h when she struck Emily's car propelling it 54 metres down the road.
Aggravating factors in the case, according to Justice Selkirk, were the blood-alcohol levels of between .20 and .245, her significant signs of impairment, driving for an extended period of time through a residential area, her high speed and overall bad driving by cutting cars off and failing to stop for stop signs.
He believes even in her drunken state, Ms. Boyce knew she wasn't fit to drive, but she p>Since Emily's death, the Watts have relied on their strong faith to get them through.
"It was her time to go," Mr. Watts said outside the courtroom. "God has a plan for all of us and Emily's days were up. It was meant to be."
Mr. Watts admits he didn't need the sentencing to have closure because he already believes Emily is in heaven.
The court process forced him to relieve the images and emotions from that night.
He is glad it is over allowing his family to move forward one day at a time.
Despite Ms. Boyce's actions, Mr. Watts does not harbour any ill will towards the woman responsible for his daughter's death.
"I wish she wouldn't have driven that night, but no amount of anger or hate will do anything for Emily, it isn't constructive," he said.
He hopes Emily's story will have an impact on the young people in the community and hammer home the message that if you drink, don't drive.
He commented on the support of the community, which he called absolutely fantastic.
"Everyone has been so wonderful," Mr. Watts said.
"We have really felt the love and support of the community, which has been helpful for our healing."
Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer reporter
Article ID# 2555980
