Prison proposed for man with brain tumour guilty of killing Calgary woman with truck

By The Canadian Press on February 22, 2021.

A man wears a mask as he enters the Calgary Courts Centre ion Oct. 30, 2020. Crown and defence lawyers agree that a man who pleaded guilty to a 2017 crash that killed a Calgary mother of three should serve time in federal prison. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY – Crown and defence lawyers agree that a man who pleaded guilty to a 2017 crash that killed a Calgary mother of three should serve time in federal prison.

Court has heard that James Beagrie had a benign brain tumour and shouldn’t have been driving when he lost consciousness and hit Anjna Sharma with his truck while she was taking a walk.

Prosecutor Kane Richards says Beagrie should serve 2 1/2 years in prison and be banned from driving for 7 1/2 years, while defence lawyer Allan Fay suggests two years and a five-year driving prohibition.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Richard Neufeld is to hand down his sentence on Thursday.

Kane read victim impact statements in court on behalf of Sharma’s husband and children, who were between 12 and 19 when their mother was killed, that describe the hole her death left in their lives.

Beagrie, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, told court he will never drive again unless it’s a matter of life and limb.

“When I come out, I know I will be a better man and the roads will be safer because I won’t be on them,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2020.