Valmont LeBlanc sentenced for causing crash that killed young parents, orphaned two children

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Little Jeremy O'Dell stood staring up into the wall of cameras, lights and microphones after court yesterday afternoon.

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With wisdom and class beyond his years and wearing a pin with his parents’ wedding photo on it, Jeremy O’Dell, 10, prepares to read his victim impact statement outside court yesterday.

Jeremy O'Dell and his grandparents Susan and Richard McNulty walk towards the media yesterday outside the courts in Moncton to read his victim impact statement.

Greg Agnew/Times & Transcript

Kali O'Dell searches for the right words to answer media questions yesterday outside the courts in Moncton. Kali and brother Jeremy's parents, Greg and Laura O'Dell, were killed by impaired driver Valmont LeBlanc on October 29, 2006.

Valmont LeBlanc received a five-year jail sentence yesterday for the impaired driving collision that killed Greg and Laura O'Dell.

The 10-year-old boy was dressed in a dark blue suit with a Toronto Maple Leafs necktie and his dead parents' wedding photo hanging on his jacket. In likely the first media scrum of his young life, Jeremy looked up at the dozen reporters gathered around and spoke in a soft voice to deliver a strong message to the public:

"Never drink and drive, 'cause it hurts a lot of people," said the boy, as he stood with his grandparents and older sister.

Jeremy and his 13-year-old sister Kali know all about hurt. They were both injured in the car crash that killed their parents, Greg and Laura O'Dell, on Oct. 29, 2006.

Their injuries have healed, but they'll never get over the loss of their parents, killed by a drunk driver who swerved out of his lane on Salisbury Road and struck their car.

"They were the best mommy and daddy ever," Jeremy told the court, as he read from his victim impact statement.

"It has been a year and a half and I still cry about mom and dad and miss them very much. It makes me

Kali told reporters it's difficult to know that as she and Jeremy go through life, their parents will be absent for occasions like high school graduations and weddings.

"When I get married, their seats are going to be empty," she said.

Kali said they will never fully get over their parents' deaths.

"My parents weren't just my parents. We were very, very close, we were like best friends. Losing them felt like losing one of your best friends, somebody you loved with all your heart.

"I don't support anybody who drinks and drives. It's a choice you make and if you make it there's no going back."

There's no going back for Valmont Antoine LeBlanc, 45, who was driving the Ford Windstar that collided head-on with the O'Dells' Acura that night in Salisbury. The only place he's going is prison.

LeBlanc was hospitalized with injuries after the crash, but later appeared in court and was charged with a dozen offences relating to the collision.

He was released on bail and scheduled to go to trial last December, but he pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. Moncton Court of Queen's Bench Justice George Rideout ordered LeBlanc detained until sentencing, which took place yesterday.

It was an emotional day in court, with approximately 30 family members of the victims having travelled from the Saint John area to be in court. Five people, including Jeremy and Kali, read victim impact statements to the court, bringing family members, the defendant and even reporters to tears.

Crown prosecutor Michel O. LeBlanc and defence lawyer Wendell Maxwell made a joint recommendation for five years in prison, based on Canadian case law, and the judge followed the recommendation. Rideout sentenced him to five years for each death and three years for each count of causing bodily harm.

The sentences will run concurrent, meaning LeBlanc's total sentence is five years. He's also banned from driving for five years after his release from prison if he remains alcohol-free. Rideout said if there's evidence he's consumed alcohol after his release, the driving ban will be for life.

Prior to sentencing, the defendant stood up in the prisoners dock and turned to face the family members seated in the crowded public gallery.

"I'd like to say how sorry I am for the pain I caused all of you," said LeBlanc.

He said if he could give his own life to bring back the two people he killed, he would do it.

"I took two lives and two kids are without parents because of me," said LeBlanc, adding that his own life is now worthless.

He told the family the amount of jail time he receives is irrelevant. He has to live with the horror of what he's done for the rest of his life.

"I have no memory of that day," he said. "I was drunk, I was behind the wheel and I took their lives. There's no excuse."

The O'Dell children now live with their maternal grandparents, Richard and Susan McNulty in Quispamsis. After the sentencing, McNulty said the apology from LeBlanc meant little to him.

"If that had come a year and a half ago it might have meant something," he said.

McNulty also said he didn't believe Maxwell's statement in court that his client intended to plead guilty from the beginning.

"I think that's a bunch of bull," he said. "If he had of done it then, there might have been some forgiveness, but they kept stalling and stalling for a year and a half."

McNulty also said he thought the sentence was far too short.

"Life wouldn't be long enough, as far as I'm concerned," he said. "I find it strange that our judicial system says the maximums are 14 (years) to life, so why are they giving five years? I just don't understand."

Bob MacFarlane, who's married to Greg O'Dell's sister Linda, also denounced both the apology and the sentence.

"I'm on the same page as Rick; his (LeBlanc's) apology was too little too late. A year and a half ago maybe it would have been worth something.

"The sentence was too lenient. Five years, he's going to be out in no time. He'll be out in two years."

MacFarlane said while they aren't happy with the outcome, they are glad the court proceedings are finally over.

"Now we can start focusing on the families and the kids," he said.

According to details provided to the court by the Crown, LeBlanc was drunk when he left his girlfriend's home at 4 p.m. on the day of the crash. At 6 p.m. he was at a convenience store in Salisbury, harassing the clerk and patrons.

At 6:35 p.m. his van crossed over the centre line on Route 106 and hit the oncoming car. The Boundary Creek family was returning home after a visit to show the children's grandparents their Halloween costumes.

Because it was raining, the collision reconstructionist couldn't determine an exact speed, but one witness said the van was travelling at high speed, well over the 80 km/h limit. LeBlanc later blew a .209 on the breathalyser, which is more than two and a half times the legal limit.

"They had no chance to manoeuvre around (the van) and the impact was terrible," said the prosecutor. "Both vehicles were totalled in the impact."

Kali suffered a wrist injury, cuts and bruises, while Jeremy broke both legs, fractured a vertebrae in his neck and suffered injuries to his liver, kidney and bowel, requiring a lengthy hospital stay. Both children have now healed from their physical injuries, but still see a counsellor to deal with the emotional fallout from losing their parents.

Greg's sister Linda read her victim impact statement, as did Laura's parents and the two children. Kali told the court that day was the worst day of her life.

"I was terrified, but I tried to stay strong for my family," she said.

"I wonder if my mom even felt the last kiss I gave her."

Maxwell told the court Valmont LeBlanc and his family were heartbroken over the deaths and his client regrets what he did.

"He'll have to live with his actions the rest of his life," said the lawyer. "He tells me he wakes up and sees the faces of those people."

Maxwell said his client has no previous record of impaired driving, but has been an alcoholic for a long time. The lawyer said LeBlanc, who also has a gambling problem, hasn't had a drink since the crash.