Killer appeals sentence, victim’s family disgusted

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This article was published 20/12/2023 (626 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man, whose seven-year sentence for a fatal drunk driving collision sparked public outrage and debate over the need for harsher penalties, is fighting to reduce his time in custody.

Tyler Goodman was given seven years — six for impaired driving causing death and one for leaving the scene — for the collision that killed Jordyn Reimer on May 1, 2022. He pleaded guilty to both counts.

Her parents, Karen and Doug Reimer, were in shock, after a victim services liaison sent an email Tuesday morning to tell them Goodman is seeking to appeal the term given to him Nov. 22.

“It’s just a sucker-punch to us,” said Karen Reimer. “It adds more heartache to our family by appealing a sentence that we already feel is ridiculously lenient.”

“I’m pretty disgusted by the whole thing,” said Doug Reimer. “In our opinion, he has not shown any remorse whatsoever.”

The Reimers were told it is possible for a sentenced inmate to apply for bail while an appeal is pending.

“Just the idea he could get out again is extremely upsetting to us,” said Karen Reimer.

At his sentencing hearing last month, Goodman’s lawyer Mat Schwartz argued he should serve a total sentence of no longer than 51/2 years.

Goodman, who is being held at Stony Mountain Institution, filed a notice of appeal Monday citing a single ground for appeal — that the sentence he received is unfit.

“Mr. Goodman intends to apply for coverage through Legal Aid Manitoba concerning this matter,” Schwartz said in related correspondence filed with the court. “Upon confirming that Mr. Goodman has received coverage through Legal Aid Manitoba, he will request approval to order the relevant transcripts of proceedings.”

Goodman had 30 days to file an application for leave/notice of appeal. Doing so Monday — a week before Christmas — upset the Reimers.

Doug Reimer said the holiday season is already difficult enough for the family.

Jordyn Reimer, a designated driver, was on her way to pick up a friend shortly after 2 a.m., when Goodman, driving a truck, blew through a stop sign at 108 km/h and slammed into her vehicle at Kildare Avenue West and Bond Street, which has a speed limit of 50 km/h.

Court heard he had been drinking with friends at a Transcona bar, and told police he had consumed nine or 10 beers before getting behind the wheel.

He rebuffed an acquaintance who took his keys and urged him not to drive, telling her “It’s OK, I’ll meet you at the after-party.”

One of Goodman’s friends took the keys back, claiming he would drive the truck.

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Bar security video showed Goodman chugging his last beer before leaving with friends to buy a 15-pack of beer.

After the crash, Goodman and his passengers ignored the pleas of witnesses to remain at the scene and left on foot, taking the beer with them.

Goodman’s mother, Laurie Goodman, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice after she lied to police about her son’s whereabouts at the time of the crash. She was sentenced to six months of house arrest.

— with files from Dean Pritchard

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Chris Kitching
Reporter

Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.

Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.