Drunk driver weeps as family testifies
Father, daughter were refugees from ongoing strife in Afghanistan
Smiling photos of 24-year-old Zohal Niazi and her father, Mohammad Kazem, were placed at the front of a Saskatoon Queen's Bench courtroom on Thursday, facing the man who caused the head-on collision that killed them.
Through victim impact statements, Zohal's three sisters describe her as a free spirit — a writer, poet and artist who loved working with kids and was passionate about justice, with dreams of becoming a lawyer.
Kazem was a well-respected City of Saskatoon library employee nearing retirement, described by friends, family and neighbours as kind, genuine and hard-working.
In December, 31-year-old Braydon Wolfe was convicted of two counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm in the fatal Highway 16 crash near Langham on Aug. 21, 2017. Sangin Niazi, Kazem's wife and Zohal's mother, was also in the vehicle, but survived the crash.
The three had been returning to Saskatoon from visiting one of Zohal's sisters in Edmonton when they were struck by Wolfe, who was driving on the wrong side of the divided highway.
The trial heard Wolfe had consumed an unknown amount of alcohol and has no memory of the crash.
At Wolfe's sentencing hearing on Thursday, court heard the family fled Afghanistan during the civil war in 2001. Kazem was detained by the Taliban — he was educated and seen as a threat to the regime, court heard — but reunited with his family three years later.
“He was so reliable and giving that he would put his needs last to everyone else,” one of his daughters told court.
“His emotions were quiet, but his heart was strong,” said a family friend.
Crown prosecutor Leslie Dunning asked for a six-year sentence with a 10-year driving prohibition. She said Wolfe's prior driving record includes a roadside blood-alcohol test in 2016 and a subsequent impaired driving course.
The defence requested a sentence between two and four years, saying Wolfe has shown extreme remorse, has had 13 surgeries since the crash and will likely lose his leg.
He previously told court he wishes he had died instead.
“Words will never explain how sorry I am. I just want the family to know I'm very sorry, even though it might not mean anything to them now,” Wolfe said on Thursday.
One of Sangin's three surviving daughters told Wolfe she holds no hate toward him and forgives him. Wolfe started to cry.
Sangin was the last family member to read her victim impact statement.
She said she found a message from Zohal that said her mother was her role model, but that she needed to take care of herself.
Sangin said she is trying to use those words to propel her through days filled with unbearable grief.
She then spoke to her deceased husband and daughter.
“Every day at 5 p.m., I'm waiting for both of you to come home. I will forever cherish the time we had together, although it was cut short.”
“I hope that someday, I will survive grief, and so will my family,” her daughter said.
Justice Richard Danyliuk has reserved his sentencing decision until May 13.