Sentencing delayed for driver who killed Welland man
Greg Caissie survived an improvised explosive device explosion in Afghanistan, but he could not survive an impaired driver.
The 45-year-old Welland resident, who did two tours of duty in Afghanistan and two tours of Bosnia with Canadian Forces during his 16-year military career, died Oct. 10, 2018 after the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a car driven by Brooke Eden.
“Mr. Caissie lived a full life,” said assistant Crown attorney Andrew Brown. “He served as a loving husband and father, and he served his country.
“He stood up for Canada, and he stood up for his community when he returned to Canada by serving with the Scouts. That’s a tremendous legacy that was cut far too short, far too early.”
Eden, a 29-year-old Wainfleet resident, appeared in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Friday for sentencing on charges of impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.
A pre-sentence report prepared prior to sentencing described the defendant as an individual with a “fragile psyche,” who has little to no insight into the harm she has caused.
In the report, she also expressed frustration that conditions of her bail release prohibit her from working and going to the gym.
Brown suggested her comments may be due to an undiagnosed mental health issue or “she may simply be a narcissist.”
The Crown is seeking a five-year penitentiary term and a lifetime driving prohibition.
‘We weren’t finished living our lives together,” the victim’s wife, Sheryl, told the judge. “One minute I’m riding on his motorcycle, the next thing I remember is seeing him in a casket.
“His life ended too soon. There is no excuse for drinking and driving … ever. He certainly didn’t deserve to die the way he did.”
A family friend said Caissie put his life on the line to serve his country.
“He came home safely, only to be killed by a drunk driver. Our friend is gone. Please stop driving under the influence.”
Court heard the Canadian Armed Forces engineer was injured in combat in 2009. An
IED exploded near him, showering him in shrapnel and killing a fellow soldier.
He returned to civilian life in Welland and was haunted by what he had experienced overseas, but found strength and comfort in family and friends and the time he spent as a volunteer with Scouts Canada.
A parade of scouts formed an honour guard at his funeral.
Court heard Eden was approaching the intersection of Buchner Road and Highway140 when she slammed into the rear of one vehicle before swerving into the oncoming lane and striking the motorcycle. She fled on foot and was later found by police on Ridge Road, nearly two kilometres from the scene of the collision. She had been knocking on doors, offering cash to residents if they agreed to drive her to another location.
The sentencing hearing was delayed for a short while Friday after Eden fired her lawyer and told Judge Joseph Nadel she’d be representing herself.
“Presumably you don’t do your own dental work and you don’t do your own medical work — and you are allowed to represent yourself — but I don’t understand why you think that will be a good idea,” the judge told her.
Eden said she wasn’t prepared to go forward and asked for an adjournment, calling the case against her a “travesty of justice.” She accused the Crown, whom she said “steals souls,” of slander and said she pleaded guilty to the charges “under duress.”
The judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 14 so the defendant could prepare submissions. “Savour Christmas,” the judge said. “It will most likely be the last Christmas you will enjoy with your family for some years.”