Mark Squires became a father for the second time just 19 days before he was killed.
His daughter, nearly three years old, looks at pictures of her father now and asks questions about the man she’ll never know.
That horrible loss was at the forefront of a sentencing decision in St. John’s on Friday, where a provincial court judge questioned if the current sentencing regime for impaired driving is doing anything to deter people from getting behind the wheel after drinking.
“These events are senseless and completely avoidable,” Judge Bruce Short told the court.
Rodney Constantine had as many as 15 drinks on a Saturday night in December of 2023. He drove his car from a St. John’s bar back to a friend’s house, where he parked in the driveway as his passengers went inside.
The court heard Constantine stayed in the car for about 45 minutes, having a heated argument with an ex-partner. He came into the house and told his friends they needed to leave.
Andrew Squires got in the front passenger seat. Mark Squires got in the back.
A St. John’s man was sentenced to five years in prison Friday following an impaired driving crash nearly three years ago. Rodney Constantine’s sentence comes after a lengthy legal process that made for one unsatisfied judge. The CBC’s Ryan Cooke reports.
The two cousins were helpless passengers as Constantine became more and more erratic, punching the dashboard and “going crazy.”
The two men pleaded with Constantine to stop. Andrew Squires said Mark Squires was crying in the backseat as he begged for his life.
A crash reconstruction specialist later said the car was travelling upwards of 128 kilometres per hour in a 50 zone when it rounded a curve and lost control. It came to a rest with flames erupting from the dashboard and filling the inside with smoke.
Constantine and Andrew Squires survived with serious injuries. Mark Squires was killed.
“Despite repeated pleas to let them out of the vehicle, Mr. Constantine chose not to do so and effectively sealed the fate of his victims,” Short said in his decision.
In the aftermath of the crash, Constantine tried to shift the blame to Andrew Squires — something Short criticized on Friday.
Constantine was also caught twice driving recklessly while on a driving ban in the months following the crash.
He was sentenced on Friday to five years’ imprisonment.
Sentences not keeping pace with inflation
Short pointed to legislative changes made in 2008, which attempted to strengthen Canada’s laws on impaired driving.
The minimum fine was raised from $600 to $1,000 — but has remained at that level for the past 18 years.
Accounting for inflation, Short said the minimum fine today is only $90 more than it was before the changes in 2008.
“One might well ask in that context how seriously we are attempting to curb impaired driving?”
He was also critical of the ignition interlock program, which allows offenders to pay for a device they blow into before starting their vehicles. People who can afford it never have to go without driving, the judge said.
“Where is the deterrent there?” Short questioned.
Judge refused previous recommendation
Constantine’s sentencing wasn’t without its hurdles.
Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock and defence lawyer Dan Furey first came before the court with a joint submission for a four-year sentence.
In a rare move, Short sent them back to the drawing board after saying the sentence would be too lenient.
Short was particularly disturbed by the fact Constantine was pulled over on June 4, 2024, after intentionally trying to tailgate a vehicle. Police said he was found with just under $5,000 in cash in the car, along with a package of cocaine.
“Mere months after this event, he’s caught twice by the police, firstly violating a heavy prohibition from driving. And even more so, driving in a manner that shows a complete disregard of safety of anyone else on the road,” Short said at the first sentencing hearing.
Short also questioned why the defence didn’t mention any steps Constantine has taken to rehabilitate himself.
“I suspect there’s a reason why … because he hasn’t taken any,” Short said.
The judge said he didn’t believe it was about Constantine not appreciating the trouble he was in, but “not giving a damn.”
Short told the court on Friday he’d still like to see a higher sentence, but could live with a five-year term.
“But for the joint submission … I would have been of the view that this matter should have attracted a sentence of 6-6.5 years. Nevertheless I will accept the joint submission.”
The sentence also comes with a lifetime driving ban.
Family hoping for closure
The Squires family spoke to the media outside the courthouse following the sentencing decision.
Family members said they appreciated the judge’s comments, and were happy to see someone in his position taking a firm stance on impaired driving.
“Just in the past year, the number of people being being killed — that alone is enough to break your heart,” said Squires’ aunt, Sandra Hennessey. “And they’re not getting enough for it.”
“Just know that I’m thinking of all the ones that lost their loved ones,” said Squires’ mother, Seryna Squires. “I know what they’re dealing with and what they’re going through and I wish it on nobody.”
The family gathered at the crash site following court on Friday, and put together a memorial of teddy bears and flowers.
“He was starting his new life and he was happy,” Seryna Squires said. “And he was taken away from it. So it’s hard, because he was my baby.”
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