Drunk driver gets 4 years in fatal crash

Calgary The sister-in-law of a Calgary woman killed in a drunk driving crash hopes the motorist’s sentence will deter others from getting behind the wheel drunk.

“We’re relieved that this process is finished,” Lesley Hansen said Friday, shortly after Dale Cameron Neisz of Calgary was handed a four-year prison sentence.

“It’s been a long, emotional, exhausting 2½ years to get to this point,” Hansen said.

She said the family was content with the sentence handed down by Justice Jolaine Antonio.

“It’s her decision and we have to be OK with it and we move forward from here,” Hansen said. “I trust the judge’s decision.”

Antonio accepted submissions by Crown prosecutor Trevor Fik that a four- to five-year sentence was warranted for Neisz on charges of impaired driving causing death and impaired causing bodily harm.

Defence lawyer Steve Wojick had suggested a three-year sentence would be appropriate.

Neisz earlier pleaded guilty in connection with the July 2, 2016 crash, which killed passenger Kanaye Renfrew and injured passenger Davie Matthews.

Neisz’s car was travelling at 138 km/h in a 50-km/h zone on Memorial Drive N.W. when he lost control of the vehicle.

Hansen said Renfrew is deeply missed by her family.

“She was a lovely person, she was a great mom, a great wife and she will be very missed forever.”

And she said she hopes the sentence will have a deterrent effect on both Neisz and others considering getting behind the wheel while drunk.

“I think there’s a long way to go with impaired driving laws and sentencings, I think we need to get tougher and people need to be scared, they can’t do it anymore and this is what happens.”