A 22-year-old Oro-Medonte Township man will be sentenced June 10 after being convicted of impaired driving causing death following the crash that killed his friend in 2016.
Noah Poisson was 19 when he drove his pickup truck off Line 13 in Oro-Medonte, a rural road north of Barrie, killing 19-year-old passenger Parker Pautsch on Aug. 15, 2016.
At the Barrie courthouse today, victim impact statements were read, including from the victim's mother, Cathy Pautsch, who showed compassion for Poisson.
"Noah, I know my voice here today won't make a difference, however I do not think time in jail will help you, either," she said in court.
"I do feel a donation to MADD Canada in honour of Parker and also community service with visits to high school to show other young people the dangers of impaired driving would help," Pautsch added.
Poisson's alcohol-blood level was in the area of 129 to 164 milligrams — well over the legal limit of 80 — on the night of the deadly crash.
The truck landed on Pautsch, who was not wearing a seat-belt, after he was ejected from the vehicle.
The Crown attorney has asked for upwards of seven years jail time and a 10-year driving suspension, while the defense has argued that, due to Poisson having no criminal record, as well as the remorse he's shown and the forgiveness from the Pautsch family, the sentence should be less than the usual two to 10 years.
Outside of the courthouse, Poisson left in a waiting vehicle without speaking to reporters.
