A woman accused of driving drunk and killing a motorcyclist on Canada Day has been released to an addictions treatment centre in Surrey as part of her bail conditions.
Janarthan Mahenthiran, 47, died when a oncoming Lexus crossed the line and hit his Yamaha FZ-1 head-on on the Trans-Canada Highway in Langford. The southbound Lexus plowed into him north of the Spencer interchange bridge at about 12:20 p.m. on July 1.
Tracy Dawn Smith, 35, of Victoria is charged with dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving causing death. She is also charged with breaching a previous bail condition, linked to an assault, of not possessing or consuming alcohol.
Smith appeared in Western Communities Courthouse via video Thursday morning from a custody centre in Surrey. She wore baggy grey prison garb, and sat quietly.
Her mother and sister sat in the audience, as did a row of motorcycle riders out to support Mahenthiran. Most of the victimB次元官网网址檚 relatives live in Toronto.
Judge Lorna-Jeanne Harvey agreed with Crown and the defense to release Smith into the custody of VisionQuest Recovery Society in Surrey.
Smith's conditions include not leaving VisionQuestB次元官网网址檚 Harte House facility unless accompanied by a staff member and attending all treatment programs. She is prohibited from driving a vehicle and consuming or possessing any drugs or alcohol, and must pay $5,000 bail.
SmithB次元官网网址檚 attorney Robert Jones said his clientB次元官网网址檚 family is devastated by the incident, but relieved she is going into addictions treatment. The family doubted they could properly monitor Smith on their own, Jones said.
B次元官网网址淭he family wants to express their condolences to the victim. They are deeply upset at the situation,B次元官网网址� Jones said outside the courthouse on Thursday. He said heB次元官网网址檚 only known his client for a short time and couldnB次元官网网址檛 comment on how long Smith has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.
B次元官网网址淲e believe sheB次元官网网址檚 had some problems with some substance abuse and alcohol in past few months. ItB次元官网网址檚 imperative in my view and the familyB次元官网网址檚 view that she get some couselling and treatment.B次元官网网址�
Her next court hearing in Colwood is Aug. 11 where Jones might enter a plea for his client, if Crown discloses its evidence by then. If she pleads not guilty, Smith can choose a trial by judge or judge and jury.
Marc Pootmans, a motorcycle rider and friend of Mahenthiran, said he and other riders came to court to support the victimB次元官网网址檚 family and to speak out against weak sentencing for people who drink, drive and run over motorcyclists.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been very little penalty for drunken driving while killing a motorcyclist,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎s motorcyclists we want to be safe on the streets.B次元官网网址�
Pootmans said its unsettling not knowing how secure the treatment facility is or how easy it could be for Smith to break her bail conditions again, referring to her alleged breach of her assault charge.
B次元官网网址淪he is allegedly guilty of having killed somebody,B次元官网网址� Pootmans remarked, B次元官网网址渂ut one of our friends is not allegedly dead.B次元官网网址�
Jim OB次元官网网址橰ourke, executive director of the VisionQuest Recovery Society, said his recovery houses are no day at the beach B次元官网网址� staff regularly treat and counsel prolific offenders, typically people with 30-plus convictions.
VisionQuest has seven recovery houses on the Mainland and one specifically for women B次元官网网址� Harte House. The house has video monitoring and three staff members for up to 15 to 18 women in early addiction recovery.
ItB次元官网网址檚 not a prison and doesnB次元官网网址檛 lock its doors at night, but OB次元官网网址橰ourke said if those in treatment deviate from the recovery program or break bail conditions, they will quickly find themselves back behind bars.
B次元官网网址淭his is not a get out of jail free card or a way to beat the system. We are not known to be gentle,B次元官网网址� said OB次元官网网址橰ourke, who earned kudos last year for helping CTV B次元官网网址 uncover a methadone kickback scheme from a pharmacy. B次元官网网址淚f (the client) blinks the wrong way weB次元官网网址檒l put her back in jail. We take our drugs seriously.
B次元官网网址淲e are giving people a chance to get better and make reparations to society for what theyB次元官网网址檝e done. Or it's go to jail and throw away the key.B次元官网网址�
