NINE YEARS FOR CRASH
Drunk driver fatally struck car at stop light
Family members of Garry Tatham hugged in Regina Provincial Court on Friday morning after the man responsible for killing the 72-year-old father and husband in a motor vehicle collision while highly intoxicated was sentenced to nine years in prison.
With 17 months credit for time already spent in custody, Brian Okemahwasin, 42, has seven years and seven months remaining on the impaired and dangerous driving causing death sentence. In addition, Judge Jeff Kalmakoff imposed a 15-year driving ban once Okemahwasin is released from prison.
“No sentence I impose can bring back Garry Tatham. And, it’s unlikely any sentence will even begin to heal the pain or redress the loss that his loved ones have experienced as a result of this crime,” Kalmakoff said.
Okemahwasin pleaded guilty to the offence and avoided sending the matter to trial.
On the morning of June 8, 2014, Tatham was stopped at a red light on Albert Street at 6th Avenue when Okemahwasin smashed into the back of the vehicle in a Ford F-150 truck. Okemahwasin was highly intoxicated and driving 94 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when the collision occurred. Tatham suffered a broken neck and died at the scene.
Two hours after the collision, Okemahwasin’s blood alcohol was registered at 299 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millitres of blood — more than 3 ½ times the legal limit.
Kalmakoff noted there was no evidence that Okemahwasin tried to stop or avoid the collision. Once he sobered up later in the day, Okemahwasin expressed remorse. Okemahwasin was spotted on Highway 11 driving recklessly and at a speed of 140 km/h prior to entering Regina. An off-duty Regina Police Service officer witnessed the crash and detained Okemahwasin.
“(Okemahwasin) was so intoxicated he didn’t know what city he was in,” said Kalmakoff.
Okemahwasin has been in custody since the date of the incident. The judge granted him 1 1/2 days credit for each day in custody.
Kalmakoff discussed factors that led Okemahwasin to an adult life of alcohol use, such as being abused in a residential school, racism and dealing with the 1992 murder of his sister in Saskatoon.
Even so, Kalmakoff said Okemahwasin had plenty of opportunities to address his personal and alcohol issues but was either “unable or unwilling” to do so. A prison sentence will give the offender an opportunity to rehabilitate through counselling and treatment programs as well as protect the public in the meantime.
With more than 200 convictions since 1991, Kalmakoff said Okemahwasin’s criminal record is “shocking” and “appalling.” The criminal record included four previous impaired driving convictions, 74 property offences and 13 for violence or weapons offences. Okemahwasin has been sentenced 72 times — 52 requiring jail.
“Since 1991, Mr. Okemahwasin’s life has been a continuous cycle of alcoholfuelled criminal activity, arrests, sentencing and relapse. Garry Tatham is the most recent victim in this tragic cycle,” said the judge.
Okemahwasin’s driver’s licence was suspended when the fatal collision with Tatham’s car occurred.
At a sentencing hearing on April 17, Crown prosecutor Chris Davison requested a 10-year prison sentence and a lifetime driving ban while defence lawyer Doug Andrews sought a four- to six-year sentence and a fiveto 10-year driving ban.
After the sentencing, Heather Tatham described her husband as her “everything” and the “rock behind our family.” She would have preferred a longer sentence, but was nonetheless pleased with the outcome, adding that Okemahwasin “got what he deserved.” Her message to others is to not drink and drive “because it could kill one of your family members and you could have your life ruined.”