CALGARY — A Calgary man who killed his daughter and seriously injured her best friend in a drunk-driving crash is to be sentenced next month.
Michael Shaun Bomford, who is 55, was found guilty in January of dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, as well as causing a crash while impaired.
Court heard he had three times the legal amount of alcohol in his system in October 2016 when he was driving his 17-year-old daughter, Meghan, and her friend, Kelsey Nelson, to get police checks so that they could become junior ringette coaches.
Nelson, who is now 20, told Bomford's sentencing hearing on Tuesday that she has a permanent brain injury, has lost social skills as a result and has memory problems after three surgeries.
Through tears, she described in her victim impact statement how much she misses Meghan and how she never thought she would have to live without her best friend.
She questioned whether Bomford will ever be sorry for what happened.
“Never did I think you could do something like this to us,” Nelson said. “I have a brain injury now … I have broken more bones than the years I have lived.
"My whole life changed.”
Bomford's trial heard that he lost control of his Jeep while driving 112 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. The vehicle rolled into the median and all three occupants were thrown out.
Bomford also addressed the courtroom.
“I wish I could trade my life for Meghan’s and Kelsey’s injuries, but I can’t,” he said through tears. “I wish I could go back and change things.”
Bomford said Meghan was any father’s dream daughter.
“I miss her every day,” he said.
Meghan's aunt, Heather Cooper, said she wasn't convinced by his words.
“If he truly was sorry, why’d he plead not guilty? Why did he put us through nearly 2 1/2 years of this?” she said outside court.
“This wasn’t an accident. This could have been prevented."
The Crown has suggested Bomford be sentenced to seven years in prison. His defence lawyer has argued for five years.
Justice Kristine Eidsvik is to sentence Bomford on Sept. 9.
He remains free on bail until then. (CTV Calgary)
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2020
The Canadian Press
