The sentencing of an impaired driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in Parksville in late August 2019 will continue on Tuesday, Aug. 17.
On Aug. 12, a sentencing hearing for Ryan John Grob, 36, began at the Nanaimo courthouse where Crown counsel, Nick Barber, took court through the timeline of events that led to the fatal hit-and-run and the death of Spencer Alexander Moore.
In October 2020, Oceanside RCMP issued a release stating that Grob and Travis Zackery Taylor, a passenger in GrobB次元官网网址檚 Ford F-350, were arrested in connection with the death of Moore.
In February of this year, Grob pleaded guilty to the charge of impaired driving causing death, and was in court on Thursday to hear the determination of the length and conditions of his sentencing.
At the start of the hearing, Barber stated he would be requesting a B次元官网网址榤id-rangeB次元官网网址� sentence based on previous rulings for similar cases and on GrobB次元官网网址檚 guilty plea.
GrobB次元官网网址檚 intoxicated actions and lack of personal responsibility on the night of the fatality, and the days following, were emphasized by Barber to Judge Karen Whonnock.
B次元官网网址淭he moral culpability here is extremely high,B次元官网网址� he said.
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Barber detailed the timeline on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, by explaining that Grob and Taylor started their night at the French Creek Marine Pub at approximately 6 p.m.
Later, the two were seen at the Rod & Gun Bar and Grill with several other community members known to them.
Several witnesses told police Grob appeared to be B次元官网网址渉ighly intoxicated,B次元官网网址� so much so that he was cut off by the establishment, and that his actions appeared B次元官网网址渁mped upB次元官网网址� and aggressive.
Barber said Grob had also been consuming cocaine that night.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., Grob was seen departing the bar and arguing with a man who said he shouldnB次元官网网址檛 drive based on how drunk he was.
B次元官网网址淢any of the people who attended the Rod & Gun did not drive home that night. Moore did not drive, he walked,B次元官网网址� said Barber.
Grob was seen B次元官网网址減eeling outB次元官网网址� of the bar parking lot down Hirst Avenue towards McMillan Street.
B次元官网网址淚t is clear on the video surveillance, which has audio, that the truck is accelerating, and it can be heard striking somethingB次元官网网址� a loud bang or popping noise that is picked up by the video surveillance camera. And it was also noted by persons in their apartments on that street.B次元官网网址�
In the seconds following, said Barber, the video footage caught a body and various items sliding and flying down the street right at the location where the victim was struck.
B次元官网网址淢r. GrobB次元官网网址檚 vehicle continues on, does not slow down, does not stop.B次元官网网址�
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Another motorist following the same path as Grob noticed the body in the road and stopped to call 911, where reportedly an ambulance arrived in 10 minutes. Moore died on impact from blunt force trauma.
Barber said in the following days Grob, Taylor and another man led police B次元官网网址渙n a wild goose chaseB次元官网网址� in efforts to deceive.
During the hearing, Barber also detailed the many driving infractions and charges Grob had amassed in earlier years, stating that B次元官网网址渢here was nothing accidental about thisB次元官网网址� and that B次元官网网址淢r. Grob is a terrible driver.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t was almost certain that something was going to happen,B次元官网网址� he said.
Court heard that following MooreB次元官网网址檚 death, Grob continued to drive as a prohibited motorist.
B次元官网网址淔ailing to take responsibility prolonged the anguish of the Moore family,B次元官网网址� said Barber.
During the hearing, two members of MooreB次元官网网址檚 family came forward to provide victim impact statements.
Brandon, the victimB次元官网网址檚 older brother, compared the situation to being instantly pushed from a 10-storey window without having time to react and not being able to comprehend what happened and unsure if you would land.
The Crown requested a six-year jail sentence with 10 years driving prohibition. The defence counsel, Jeffrey Arndt, suggested a three-and-a-half to four-year sentence with six years driving prohibition.
The continuation of the hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the Nanaimo courthouse.
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