An Indigenous driver killed a 12-year-old girl and left her mother with devastating brain injuries. His sentence: house arrest — with the Ontario judge citing Canada’s “colonial past.”
As first reported by the Brantford Expositor, Darris Wilson was convicted of dangerous driving that caused death and bodily harm after his Dodge Ram struck a vehicle carrying 12-year-old Sierra Beverly and her mother, Naomi, head-on in 2022.
Sierra, 12, was killed at the scene. Meanwhile, her mother suffered debilitating brain injuries and continues to require around-the-clock care.
According to the National Post, Wilson’s pickup contained empty and partially consumed beer cans following the crash.
Wilson was reportedly travelling close to 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone and appeared to have not braked before the crash.
Following the incident, Ontario Justice Gethin Edward sentenced Wilson to just two years of house arrest instead of prison.
The Crown had sought a four-year penitentiary sentence.
According to the Brantford Expositor, Edward cited Wilson’s Indigenous background and cultural disconnection when explaining the sentence.
Edward said colonization “disconnected” Wilson from his culture, contributing to alcohol abuse that “crystallized into the tragic events” of Feb. 11, 2022.
The judge also argued that imprisoning Wilson would interfere with his efforts to reconnect with his Indigenous heritage.
“Mr. Wilson’s efforts to regain his culture, that which was taken from him and his family in a systematic fashion by the Government of Canada, will once again be taken by the state if the court imposes a four-year penitentiary sentence,” Edward wrote.
The judge framed his sentencing decision within a broader effort to address the effects of Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples.
“I’m left with this simple refrain: ‘If not now, when? If not this case, what case?’ To which I simply reply: Now, and this case,” he wrote.
Both Wilson and Edward are members of Six Nations of the Grand River.
Edward relied on Gladue principles, which require judges to consider Indigenous offenders’ circumstances, including colonialism and systemic discrimination.
Edward has previously championed Indigenous approaches within Ontario’s justice system, including helping establish a Gladue-focused Indigenous Persons Court in Brantford.
In 2024, Wilfrid Laurier University named Edward a visiting Indigenous scholar.
“We have a great deal to learn from Justice Edward’s work to decolonize Canada’s legal system,” university officials said at the time.
According to the National Post, Edward has also previously removed Canadian and Ontario flags from his courtroom to accommodate an Indigenous witness.
Indiginous, lieberal judge? Old enough to drive in lieberal kanada means old enough to be documented as an adult, with all of the legal ramifications and responsibilities that entails. He is responsible for his alleged decision to pilot a motor vehicle, while under the influence. That is it. Full stop. No exceptions due to woke, activist indoctrinations.
Well, if this "Justice" (GAG! Cough!) is so concerned about his Indian reconnecting with his "Native Heritage" wouldn't prison be the best place to do that? After all, about 1/3rd of the prison population is Indian despite the fact that only 5% of the general population. They are more over-represented there than any other place in Canada.