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Jamie Sarkonak: She was killed by a carjacker on meth. Her family deserved to be heard in court

Duane Nepoose killed a young Calgary girl by speeding through a red light at over 170 km/h. A judge said too many victim impact statements were filed in response

It was the day after Christmas, 2024, and nine-year-old Victoria Desjardins was riding in the car as her mom drove through the Calgary intersection of Southland Drive and Macleod Trail when a Dodge Caravan came careening towards her at 170 kilometres per hour through a red light. The driver, repeat criminal Duane Nepoose, was high on meth and probably also adrenaline — he had just violently robbed the car from its owner and was now evading police. The impact was so brutal that Desjardins couldn’t survive her injuries; Nepoose, however, lived.

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He was sentenced to 10 years’ jail at the end of August, having pleaded guilty to robbery, fleeing police, dangerous driving causing death and three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm (Desjardins’ mother and sister were seriously injured, as was another woman in a different vehicle). Six total charges, down from the initial 11. But the sentencing decision wasn’t solely a condemnation of Nepoose’s crimes: the judge also admonished the Crown prosecutor for allowing the victims too much leeway to express their loss.

Jamie Sarkonak: She was killed by a........

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