Emotions high as fatal impaired driving case lands in Clarenville court
Lawyer appears on Austin Deir's behalf for first appearance
If losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare, then for two Trinity Bay-based families, that nightmare is a reality they know all too well.
On Jan. 21, Haley Keating and Erin Pretty, both 22, were on a day trip to Clarenville when they collided with an SUV on the Trans-Canada Highway near Arnold's Cove.
The collision killed Pretty at the scene, and Keating died days later in hospital. Veteran labour leader Austin Deir, 71, was at the wheel of the SUV.
Deir was pulled from his burning vehicle at the scene and seriously injured.
Police allege Deir showed "signs of impairment," and was subsequently charged with four counts: two each of impaired driving causing death, and two of dangerous driving causing death.
Keating's mother, Kelly Tulk, said her life has been upended following the loss of her daughter.
"It's just been pure hell. Sorry, it is. No one should have to lose the child, and it's been so hard. Lisa and Greg are going through the exact same thing, and they both had siblings," Tulk said.
Pretty's aunt, Elaine Pike, said her family lives in a nightmare from which they cannot awake.
"She had so much going for her," Pike said. "She was looking into becoming an RCMP officer. She was so smart and bright and a go-getter. We were so proud of her."
Deir's case was presented in a court in Clarenville on Thursday morning for its first appearance.
He was not present, and — as is common in many such cases — his lawyer appeared on his behalf for this stage of the court process. Deir is currently free on conditions and his case was set over until late November.
But Pretty's father, Greg Pretty, was angry that Deir wasn't in the courtroom on Thursday.
"I was hoping to meet him here today but he didn't have the courage to just stand up for what he did. It's seven months now, going on, still nothing, but we will meet," he said.
In support of the families, around 50 people held a vigil outside the courthouse for Pretty and Keating. They wore pink shirts, displayed photos, hung banners from their vehicles, and cried.
Keating's grandfather, Mike Keating, told CBC News everyone showed up to see the young women get justice.
"We've lost everything. Everything. Granddaughter, everything. Our life is completely changed, and not only for us, Erin's family too," he said.
Family devastated before
Keating's aunt, Mandy Keating, said the young woman's loss was the second time her family has been hurt by impaired driving.
In 2016, Mandy Keating's grandmother, Jane Newhook, 83, was killed by a drunk driver.
"That man, his name was George Whalen. He was convicted. He served his time, and since getting out of jail, we've learned that he has hit two other people since," Keating said.
She says people need to stop driving after drinking or using drugs.
"People need to realize that there are rules and laws, and you can't just try to play God and drive when you're impaired," Mandy Keating said.
She fears that the young women won't receive justice.
"You're murderers," Keating said. "My biggest fear is that we'll go through this process, and the girls won't get justice because you hear so often that something happens, and the court throws the case out over some technicality."
Brooke Hollett said she was close to Pretty and Keating. Heartbroken by the loss, she is one of many determined to see justice served.
"I feel like my life is now completely gone. We need justice for our girls," Hollett said.
"We can't have anything else like this happen, especially this is not right. Our girls are gone."
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With files from Terry Roberts
