Parole denied for lawyer convicted of impaired driving in teen's 2018 death
An Edmonton lawyer serving a 3 1/2 year prison sentence after fatally hitting a teen while he was driving drunk has been denied parole.
Shane Stevenson was seeking both day and full parole after he was sentenced last October for dangerous driving causing death.
The parole board panel noted Stevenson had "made some gains" over the past months but denied his application.
"You do still have some outstanding risk factors," the board noted. "At this time, your risk is assessed as unmanageable."
Stevenson struck and killed Chloe Wiwchar, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student, while he was driving his truck along Kingsway near Tower Road on April 15, 2018.
An off-duty police officer witnessed the collision, called 911 and followed Stevenson's truck to a nearby alley where he was later arrested.
He pleaded guilty in October 2020 when court heard that his blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was nearly double the legal limit.
Wiwchar's mother, Holly Lucier, presented a victim impact statement before the parole board calling for tougher impaired driving laws.
"Sentencing does not match the seriousness of the crime," she said. "I will never return to a place where I'll see my child's face or kiss her forehead."
According to the Parole Board of Canada, most offenders are eligible for full parole at whatever is less: one-third of their sentence or seven years.
Most offenders are eligible for day parole six months before the full parole eligibility date.
By law, offenders have a parole review within six months of their eligibility date.
Parole boards consider the nature of the offence as well as prior criminal history, behaviour in the institution, victim impact statements and community release plan in making their decisions.
Stevenson has two months to appeal Thursday's decision.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
developing Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.