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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Man hoping for fine after hit, run
Melissa Ranville
A Winnipeg man says he shouldn't have to go to jail for a deadly hit-and-run that occurred while he was out on bail and banned from driving.
Roop Singh Dhaliwal, 36, pleaded guilty Tuesday to driving while disqualified and fleeing the scene of an accident for the August 2009 tragedy that left Melissa Ranville dying on a city street.
The Crown is seeking a two-year jail sentence for Dhaliwal, who waited four days before turning himself in to police. Defence lawyer Sheldon Pinx is asking for a fine and conditional penalty that would allow Dhaliwal to remain free in the community. Queen's Bench Justice Joan McKelvey has reserved her decision until May 23.
Ranville, 19, died of massive trauma after being run over while walking down Sheppard Street near Inkster Boulevard. Dhaliwal was behind the wheel of a 2004 Nissan and claims he never saw Ranville, who was wearing dark clothing. He struck her from behind, causing Ranville's body to strike the windshield before going under the vehicle. Dhaliwal kept driving and later admitted to a family friend he knew he was responsible for killing the young woman.
"I feel angry because this should have never happened," the victim's mother, Janet Delorme, told court Tuesday in an impact statement. "A mother should not have a child go before her."
Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft said there is no evidence Dhaliwal was impaired at the time of the deadly crash -- although it's impossible to prove because he fled the scene. But Dhaliwal does have a history of impaired driving.
He was arrested in May 2009 and charged with impaired driving, refusing a breathalyzer and fleeing the scene of an accident only to be released on bail the following day with conditions, which included a driving ban.
Dhaliwal was rearrested on Aug. 5, 2009 after being accused of breaching certain conditions of his release. He was released again on bail. Specifics were not presented in court Tuesday as he wasn't convicted of that incident. Dhaliwal then struck and killed Ranville on Aug. 14.
"He should not have been driving at all. That is a significant aggravating factor," Vanderhooft said Tuesday. "And he did not make any effort to render any assistance to Miss Ranville."
Dhaliwal has since pleaded guilty to the drunk-driving charges and was given a $1,500 fine and one-year driving prohibition. He also has eight prior driving infractions on his record, including speeding, driving without insurance and disobeying a red light.
Pinx told court his client could face deportation to his native India if given a jail sentence.
www.mikeoncrime.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 19, 2012 B3
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