Two years of house arrest is too light a sentence for a New Brunswick man who drank 24 beers, then smashed his car into a cyclist, say the victim's family and advocates against drunk driving.
Peter Leon Howe, 42, pleaded guilty to drinking an entire case of beer, plus half a bottle of whisky, while partying at a relative's house in Fredericton on July 15, 2006.
Howe turned down offers to stay over at the home, then drove back to his room at the Budget Motel. On the way, he swerved onto the shoulder and collided with cyclist Robbie MacRitchie, killing the 23-year-old.
Howe fled the scene after striking MacRitchie. When he was eventually arrested, his Breathalyzer reading showed 140 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood -- approaching twice the legal limit of 80 milligrams.
The victim's mother said Howe's punishment -- handed out in a Fredericton court on Thursday -- does not match the crime.
"With our own kids, if they -- Robbie for instance -- did something wrong, which didn't meet with our approval, he was confined to the house and he had the car keys taken away from him," Faye MacRitchie, told reporters outside the court. "But he didn't kill anybody."
Mothers Against Drunk Driving also slammed the sentence, calling it a slap on the wrist and saying it lacks the teeth to deter others from following Howe's example.
Lisa Howse of the Fredericton chapter of MADD, said the group wanted Howe to receive the maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
"Until we start handing down stronger sentences people are going to continue to do it," she told CTV's Canada AM on Friday.
Howse described the reaction in the courtroom when the sentence was handed down as one of shock.
"I believe people were shocked, because when the judge started speaking, he sounded like he was going to give a strong sentence. Then when he began talking about the two-years-less-a-day house arrest, his parents were a little anguished, I believe, and his friends were outraged," Howse said.
"It was hard to sit there and know what they're going through and to know there's nothing you can do."
She acknowledged that Howe apologized to his victim's family, but said his actions spoke louder than his words.
"To know he's living at home, he's having dinner with his family, to know he's having some contact with the community, it's hard for the family."
His lawyer Ron Morris said the sentence is in the best interest of society, because it will permit him to receive addictions treatment not available in prison.
Howse suggested it's time to ensure such programs are available in the provincial prison system.
