Superior Court Justice Kristin Muszynski has reserved a decision in the dangerous driving causing death case against 39-year-old Stephanie Osborne.
Osborne, from the Bancroft area, pleaded guilty in June to driving a Dodge Ram through two barriers at Belleville’s Meyers Pier in late June of 2021 and crashing into a bench where 63-year-old security guard Lawrence “Larry” Tilander of Belleville was sitting. The truck, Osborne, and Tilander all ended up in the Bay of Quinte.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 a.m. and Tilander was working the pier area.
Osborne was pulled out of the water and taken to hospital shortly after the incident, however, Tilander’s body wasn’t located until after 7 a.m. Investigation determined the truck had been travelling at 66 kilometres per hour when the collision occurred.
A few days later Osborne turned herself in to police.
At a sentencing hearing in a Belleville courtroom Friday, Crown Attorney Pardeep Bhachu asked the judge to sentence Osborne to five years in prison, a 20-year driving prohibition, a DNA order, a non-communication order with the Tilander family, and a 10-year weapons prohibition.
Bhachu said Osborne admitted to smoking marijuana two hours before the incident occurred but had not been drinking. “She made a criminal decision to drive a vehicle dangerously and did not have auto insurance. That truck became a weapon in her hands.”
Defence lawyer Jason Easton called for a maximum two-year conditional sentence in which Osborne would not serve time in jail but would be confined to her residence 24 hours a day, only being allowed to go to medical appointments or emergencies and to visit her children, after receiving permission from authorities. He also asked that she be sentenced to three years probation.
Easton told the judge that Osborne had not driven since the collision and does not want to drive, adding that she was attending counselling sessions and has no previous criminal record. “What I’m suggesting are the most serious conditions and the maximum length possible for a conditional sentence. The probation period I’m suggesting is also the maximum possible. I don’t believe jail time will help her (Osborne) rehabilitation in any way, in fact I believe it will hinder it.”
She would also be required to abstain from alcohol and drugs and continue to take counselling for mental health and substance abuse issues.
Osborne had a difficult childhood with an abusive father and erratic mother and moved often.
In her teens she was sexually assaulted and entered into a bad relationship afterward.
Two members of Tilander’s family, his sister Barbara Tilander and niece Meggin Tilander, gave emotional victim impact statements.
Barbara described her brother as a man adored by his family and many friends. “Larry was a writer and musician, the type of man who volunteered to cook meals for the homeless and pass out Tim Hortons gift cards to those struggling. He loved nature and his family. He didn’t deserve to die in such a senseless way. I often go to the bench at the pier that is dedicated to Larry and reflect on our life together and sometimes I can hear his voice. I hope this sentence will end a horrible chapter in my life.”
Meggin said she was sorry she couldn’t share another coffee, ride, or Christmas with her uncle. “I’m sorry only my 13-year-old got to know you (Larry). My younger ones will never know what an amazing, selfless, loving man you were.”
At the end of the proceeding Osborne stood and barely audible as she choked back tears said, “I want to apologize. If I could go back I would not do this. I’m not that kind of person. I don’t want to hurt anybody or anything. I am truly sorry for the pain I’ve caused.”
A date for sentencing has not been set.
