Red Deer Advocate
Red Deer College Athletics
Red Deer Riggers
Best of Red Deer
SENTENCE APPEAL – The Alberta Justice Department has launched an appeal of the sentence for Chad Olsen
Drunk driving sentence to be appealed
Erin Fawcett
Jun. 22, 2011 2:54 p.m.
The sentence handed down to a convicted drunk driver will be appealed by the Alberta Justice Department.
Chad Olsen, 24, received a two-year sentence in April after he pleaded guilty last November to two counts of impaired driving causing death.
Brad and Krista Howe were killed on Feb. 7, 2010 at about 2 a.m. after the truck that Olsen was driving slammed into them at the intersection of Ironstone Dr. and 30 Ave. Brad and Krista were pronounced dead on the scene and Olsen was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. His blood alcohol level was found to have been three times over the legal limit.
RCMP investigation determined that Olsen ran a red light and was going at least 85 km/hr on 30th Ave. which has a posted speed limit of 60 km/hr.
Krista, 35, was an engineer at MEGlobal Canada Inc., at Prentiss and Brad, 34, was an engineer at Nova Chemicals in Joffre. They left behind five children who range in age from six to 15.
Carla Jones, spokesperson for Alberta Justice said a hearing will likely be held once the appropriate paper work is filed from both the crown prosecutor and defence lawyer. The appeal will likely take place sometime this fall.
During Olsen's sentencing hearing in April, Crown prosecutor Charlotte Oxford, who asked for a sentence of 3.5 years in jail, also detailed Olsen's extensive driving record.
From 2005-2010, Olsen received nine speeding tickets as well as multiple other tickets including a ticket for an alcohol related suspension in December of 2008 and a number of tickets for failing to stop, failing to obey traffic control, crossing a double solid line, driving left of centre and driving while unauthorized.
After the judge handed down Olsen's two-year sentence, Sandra Green, mother of Krista expressed her disappointment.
"It's a huge insult. Two people, two years and three months. There's not balance, there's no justice. It's not right at all," she said in April. "Our sentence is for life and it was dictated by Chad Olsen whose sentence is two years and three months. Most likely he'll be out before the year is up."
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
Athlete to represent Canada on world stage
City residents encouraged to participate in cancer studies
Archived stories and photos from past years hosted on this website
Red Deer Express closed its doors March 27 - current local news, sports, entertainment and community stories still available through the Red Deer Advocate daily newspaper
B.C. prepared if Alberta shuts off fuel supplies, David Eby says
If B.C. continues pipeline battle, 'we'll finish it,' Alberta's Jason Kenney vows
UPDATE: RCMP find no safety risk to the general public or employees at Nova Chemicals
RCMP received reports of the threat Thursday evening
Explore Red Deer Express
© 2020, Red Deer Express and Black Press Group Ltd.