Emotions high as N.W.T. woman sentenced to 30 months for dangerous driving death

A woman who drove a pick-up truck dangerously, causing the death of one man, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and will be banned from driving for three years after her sentence. 

In April 2022, Hannah Lafferty swerved, hitting Germaine Mantla with a Ford F-150 truck near Yellowknife's Bison Hill Apartments. She was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death in April.

At the sentencing Monday, Justice Elizabeth Hughes said Lafferty caused Mantla serious injuries that led to his death.

Both the families of Lafferty and Mantla were present in court on Monday. 

Mantla was a bystander on the opposite side of the road when Lafferty struck him with the vehicle.

Mantla's mother wept as Hughes read the details of the sentence, describing the "devastating impact" on his family.

They endured a "waking nightmare" as he remained in a coma before his death, said Hughes.

During the trial, Lafferty said she was in a panic trying to escape her boyfriend's jealous ex.

Hughes rejected Lafferty's argument that she drove recklessly to avoid being attacked by Ikeda Lafferty, who was hanging onto her car.

On that night, Ikeda Lafferty went to the apartment of Austin Moore, her former partner and father of her two children. 

Moore and Hannah Lafferty were dating at the time. Ikeda previously told the court she was angry to learn Hannah was outside. She approached Hannah's vehicle, and opened the door when Hannah accelerated. 

Hannah told police that Ikeda approached her vehicle, opened the door, and started assaulting her. In court proceedings, Ikeda denied that accusation.

In a 911 call played for the court, Hannah Lafferty told police: "This poor guy. That was so unexpected. I couldn't control it … I didn't see him."

Justice Hughes said what transpired was "no accident."

Lafferty's sentence for dangerous driving causing death must meet the objectives of deterrence, said Hughes. She also considered Gladue factors in her sentencing. 

Driving is a "privilege" and any sentence applied should "express society's condemnation" of dangerous driving offences, said Hughes.

Hannah Lafferty did not have a criminal record at the time, and showed "limited remorse" over the incident, said Hughes.

She was employed at Diavik, but was terminated when she was found guilty, the judge said.

Hannah Lafferty demonstrated a "couple of minutes of extremely bad judgment," said Hughes, noting the "intentional swerving" to throw Ikeda Lafferty off the truck as an aggravating factor in sentencing.

Crown lawyers sought five years of imprisonment, but Hughes said this range is typically applied to drunk drivers, people who flee an accident scene, or are racing.

Hannah Lafferty must submit a DNA sample, and is ordered not to contact the victim's family.

Following the sentencing, Mantla's family left the courtroom.

Lafferty's family members surrounded her as she cried out repeatedly for her four-year-old daughter to be brought into the courtroom. She embraced her child as family members wept, before sheriffs closed the courtroom.

Lafferty lives with her father and daughter. 

Hughes described Lafferty as having strong family support, being a "youthful offender" who faced bullying, the death of her child's father and "negative community messages" following the offence.

Her lawyer told CBC they plan to appeal the sentence.

Hughes said 30-year-old Germaine Mantla leaves behind two children, including a son who was two when he died.

His child "will not have memories of his father and will never know him," said Hughes.