Watkins to be sentenced May 6

GANDER -

One of the men accused in the street racing incident that resulted in a collision and the death of 71-year-old Henrietta Head of Boyd's Cove will hear his sentence from Judge Bruce Short on May 6.

On an earlier court date Ryan Selby Watkins, age 21, of Summerford had pled guilty to charges of criminal negligence causing death while street racing, impaired driving causing death and failure to stop at the scene of an accident knowing there has been death or bodily harm. He was in Provincial Court on March 30 where the facts pertaining to the matter were presented.

While the details of what occurred will be reported when Judge Short delivers the sentence for Watkins, it was noted that the official cause of death on Ms. Head's death certificate was drowning. It was also noted in the facts presented that Watkins did not stay at the scene after Ms. Head's vehicle was hit, went over a guardrail on the Reach Run Causeway and landed upside down in the water.

Judge Short was presented with victim impact statements and one from her son was read aloud in court by a family representative. It revealed how he had to go through his departed mother's handbag that was retrieved from the vehicle and filled with mud.

Some of the words used to describe her included strong, vibrant, joyful, youthful, caring, a friend, avid gardener, wonderful cook and loving Mother and Grandmother. She was described as someone who was active and loved being surrounded by family and friends. It was stated that she would be missed and that she, "did not deserve to die in such a horrific way."

The son wished Watkins had gone back to help his mother that day, noting she had a fear of the water.

"I wish he had gone back to the cold, dark ocean, but he didn't," was the wording in the statement.

Watkins addressed the court and apologized to the family of Ms. Head, saying he "panicked and got scared." He said he takes full responsibility for his actions and no matter what the court decides is an appropriate sentence, he said he will "be imprisoned in his body for the rest of life" for what happened that day. He hoped the family of Ms. Head could find it within their hearts to one day forgive him.

Sentencing

In addition to the charges in relation to the events of May 9, Watkins was also facing charges waived in from Ontario relating to a May 2007 robbery in Toronto, Ontario. His sentence will also include these charges of robbery and using an imitation firearm during the commission of an indictable offence. A charge of disguised with intent in relation to this matter was withdrawn.

The Crown recommended a sentence of five years on the criminal negligence causing death while street racing charge and one-two years for the failure to remain at the scene charge. It was also recommended the sentence for the robbery charge be served concurrent to any other sentence and the firearm charge the minimum of one year consecutive. A maximum 10-year driving prohibition after custody was also recommended, with one year being the minimum.

The defense recommended three years be an appropriate sentence for the criminal negligence causing death charge, with another three to six months on the failure to remain at the scene charge. The robbery and imitation firearms charges were recommended to be served concurrently.

Judge Short said he needed considerable time to consider what he heard in the facts and case law presented to him and set the matter to May 6 for final sentencing.