PART 2: Was Justice Served? Sentencing in an Impaired Driving Death

Written By Amanda Bickell

Episode 04: April 13, 2026

Click Here to Watch the Episode on YouTube

After 967 days of waiting, the sentence was finally delivered.

In this second part of the sentencing story, Episode 4 of LIVID: Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving, Amanda Bickell shares what happened in the courtroom when the judge delivered the sentence for the man who killed her 22-year-old daughter, Abbey.

Four and a half years in prison. A seven-year driving ban.

And one overwhelming question: Was justice actually served?

This episode takes you inside the final stage of the sentencing process—from the defence’s arguments for leniency, to the judge’s reasoning, to the emotional and philosophical aftermath. Amanda breaks down the legal concept of justice through multiple lenses, including procedural, distributive, retributive, and restorative justice, and examines whether any of them were truly achieved.

You’ll hear:

  • The 11 mitigating factors argued by the defence—and why many felt deeply troubling

  • How the court weighed remorse, addiction, and “first offence” narratives

  • Why Alcohol Use Disorder was ultimately not accepted as a mitigating factor

  • The role of media coverage and whether public awareness is treated as punishment

  • How Canadian sentencing principles like denunciation and deterrence are applied—and whether they actually work

  • A critical look at parity in sentencing and why precedent may be reinforcing failure

  • The stark imbalance between the life lost and the sentence served

Amanda also explores a difficult truth: even when the system works exactly as it was designed to, it may still fail victims—and fail to prevent future harm.

If sentencing is meant to deter impaired driving and denounce it as unacceptable, this episode asks a confronting question:

If it’s working… why is this still happening?

This is not just a story about one case.
It’s a challenge to how we define justice in Canada.

Content Note:
This episode discusses impaired driving, traumatic loss, grief, and the criminal justice system. Listener discretion is advised.

If this episode moves you, please share it.
Talk about impaired driving.
Intervene when you see it.
Call 911 if necessary.

Real change starts with uncomfortable conversations.

References

Amanda Bickell
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Part 1: Was Justice Served? Sentencing in an Impaired Driving Death