Calls for justice reform follow deadly crash

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WINNIPEG — The grief-stricken family of a woman killed in a crash involving an alleged impaired driver are backing calls for criminal justice reform, now amplified by Manitoba politicians from every level of government.

James Lorne Hilton is charged in the crash that killed 28-year-old Kellie Verwey near Portage La Prairie last month. The 24-year-old St. Andrews man is accused of being impaired behind the wheel of a stolen pickup truck that veered into oncoming traffic.

“Having all levels of government join in a call to action to bring change to our broken system means that other families that are affected by our catch and release system — both past and future — will have a voice to tell all levels of government that this needs attention and correction,” Meechelle Best, Verwey’s mother, told the Free Press Friday.

“Our family is absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for our loss.”

Police issued an arrest warrant for Hilton days before the crash because he had repeatedly violated release conditions from previous offences.

Portage—Lisgar MP Branden Leslie has launched a petition and written a letter to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani, demanding he work to reform bail legislation.

His plea joins similar calls from Portage Mayor Sherilyn Knox, Portage MLA Jeff Bereza and Progressive Conservative justice critic Wayne Balcaen — all of whom spoke out in the wake of the tragedy.

In his letter, Leslie called on Virani to repeal Bill C-75. The legislation, passed in 2019, sought to modernize criminal bail processes and reduce delays in the criminal justice system.

Critics of the bill have condemned it as contributing to the catch-and-release of offenders.

Proponents dispute that claim, arguing it is based on foundational principles of the justice system, including the belief that all people charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Political opponents of the Liberal government have long accused the bill of compromising public safety, but Leslie said demanding a second look at the legislation should not be a partisan issue.

“The idea of putting any rights of criminals above those of law-abiding citizens or victims, to me, is just absolutely insane,” Leslie said in a phone interview.

“Perhaps the intent originally of this legislation … was not to lead into incidents like this, but what matters is what happens.”

Leslie described Verwey as a “Young, beloved woman in our community that… by all accounts was just a remarkable person that would give the shirt off her back to help somebody else and was never looking for any sort of accolades for it.”

He said people in Portage are enraged by her death.

He acknowledged it was unlikely Virani would take immediate action on the legislation because parliament is currently prorogued as the Liberal party selects a new leader. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation from office last month.

Leslie said he launched the petition and penned the letter to make clear he would advocate for bail reform regardless of which party wins the next federal election.

His office plans to draft new legislation in anticipation of parliament’s return, he said.

Verwey’s family said they support the actions taken by Leslie.

“It will only be through public awareness and public support to this petition that our individual voices are heard through the parliamentary system,” Best said.

The Liberal government took steps to strengthen bail conditions with Bill C-48 in 2023; introduced after calls from premiers and territorial leaders to make it more difficult for repeat violent offenders charged with new crimes to be released into the community.

The Criminal Act amendment expanded the use of reverse onus for repeat violent offenders, which requires the accused to argue why they should get bail.

Hilton had one previous conviction and several pending charges before the crash, but his criminal history did not include violent offences, according to court records.

He is now charged with dangerous driving causing death, driving while impaired, failure to stop after a fatal collision, possession of property obtained by crime, resisting arrest and possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

» Winnipeg Free Press