Calgary Boxing Day crash: Sentencing hearing for driver who killed 9-year-old Victoria Desjardins
Duane Nepoose faces sentencing this week after the Calgary Boxing Day crash that killed nine‑year‑old Victoria Desjardins and seriously injured her mother and sister. (globalnews.ca)
Sentencing scheduled after guilty pleas
Duane Nepoose, 32, entered guilty pleas in relation to the crash and to associated offences, including robbery and fleeing police, and is now before a judge for sentencing. (globalnews.ca)
Prosecutors have described Nepoose as a high risk to reoffend violently and urged a lengthy prison term, while defence counsel has asked the court for a shorter custodial sentence. (calgary.citynews.ca)
The hearing has drawn multiple victim impact statements and audio-visual evidence shown in court, and the decision on an exact term will follow legal submissions from Crown and defence. (globalnews.ca)
Boxing Day timeline: theft, pursuit and collision
On Dec. 26, 2024, police allege Nepoose stole a minivan from a pharmacist before leading officers on a high-speed pursuit through south Calgary. (livewirecalgary.com)
Court documents and media reports say the vehicle reached speeds of up to 180 km/h before the driver ran a red light at the intersection of Macleod Trail and Southland Drive. (globalnews.ca)
That manoeuvre resulted in a multi-car collision that left three members of one family badly injured and resulted in the death of nine‑year‑old Victoria Desjardins. (livewirecalgary.com)
Court evidence included dashcam and officer body-worn video
At Nepoose’s plea and subsequent hearings, the Crown played dashcam and police body-worn camera footage to establish the sequence of events leading to the crash. (globalnews.ca)
Footage shown in court captured the moment of impact and the immediate rescue attempts by officers and first responders at the scene. (globalnews.ca)
Jurors were not involved because the case proceeded by way of plea, but judges reviewed the visual record as part of the agreed statement of facts and the sentencing process. (calgary.citynews.ca)
Victim profile and family impact
The child who died was identified as nine‑year‑old Victoria Desjardins, who had been a passenger in a car driven by her mother, Amanda Reitmeier. (livewirecalgary.com)
Reitmeier and Victoria’s older sister were also seriously injured; media reports say the mother spent weeks in hospital with multiple fractures and internal injuries. (livewirecalgary.com)
Family members and supporters have appeared in court to deliver victim impact statements that described the emotional and practical consequences of the loss and injuries sustained on Boxing Day. (calgary.citynews.ca)
Crown and defence sentencing positions
Crown prosecutor Todd Buziak has characterized Nepoose’s conduct as dangerous and seeks a sentence toward the high end of posted ranges for dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm. (calgary.citynews.ca)
The Crown has recommended a term of imprisonment intended to reflect both denunciation and deterrence, and has suggested ancillary orders such as driving and weapons prohibitions. (calgary.citynews.ca)
Defence lawyers have urged the court to temper the sentence with mitigating factors they say are relevant, proposing a shorter custodial term than the Crown seeks and noting rehabilitation prospects. (calgary.citynews.ca)
Criminal record and risk assessments discussed in court
Crown submissions at the hearing referenced Nepoose’s prior criminal history and assessments that described him as a “very high risk” to reoffend violently if not adequately detained and supervised. (globalnews.ca)
Those assessments formed part of the Crown’s argument for a significant prison term and for conditions aimed at preventing future public-safety risks. (globalnews.ca)
Defence counsel countered by highlighting factors they say should mitigate sentence length and emphasized the court’s ability to impose post-release supervision and treatment conditions. (calgary.citynews.ca)
Community reaction and support for the family
The collision prompted an immediate outpouring of community support, including fundraising efforts established to assist the family with medical expenses and funeral costs. (livewirecalgary.com)
Local reaction in the weeks after the crash focused on road safety, the dangers of high-speed pursuits, and the broader consequences of vehicle theft and violent flight from police. (livewirecalgary.com)
Public commentary in court and in media coverage reflected the strong emotional response to the loss of a child and the serious injuries suffered by her family. (calgary.citynews.ca)
The judge will now weigh the aggravating facts of the offence, the defendant’s record and risk assessments, and the mitigation put forward by defence counsel before imposing sentence.
