Man Gets Life Sentence for Drunk Driving Fatality

 A Canadian man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a woman in a wheelchair while driving drunk. This was his 19th drunk driving conviction. The life sentence handed down by a Quebec judge was the first for a drunk-driving conviction in Canada’s history, according to prosecutor Joey Davis.

Roger Walsh, 57, had pleaded guilty to killing Anee Khudaverdian, who was out with her dog on her 47th birthday last year. She was propelled into a ditch after being struck by Walsh, who kept driving and was arrested about 6 miles away after driving into a ditch himself. Walsh admitted he had spent the night drinking.

Quebec court judge Michel Mercier declared the man incorrigible and said he would be likely to commit further crimes. Walsh's 18 previous impaired driving convictions and 114 previous convictions in total for assault, uttering threats, breaking and entering, and theft were entered into evidence.

Prosecutors also had wanted Walsh declared a "dangerous offender," but Mercier said the designation wasn't intended for drunk-driving cases but was reserved for the worst criminals like murderers and serial rapists.

Walsh's lawyer, Jacques Vinet, had proposed a 10-year sentence and noted that the life sentence was even longer than the prosecution had sought. Vinet said he would discuss with his client whether to appeal.