A 22-year-old woman, Angelina Bernard, from Lennox Island First Nation, has been sentenced to slightly over four years in federal custody for causing a fatal crash due to impaired driving that resulted in the deaths of her two passengers, Karissa-Jo Mary Elizabeth Bernard and Kevin Joseph Labobe. The tragic incident occurred on the only road leading to the close-knit Miâkmaw community in June of the previous year.
After considering the joint recommendation from the Crown and legal aid, Chief Judge Krista MacKay accepted a 52-month custody term for Angelina Bernard along with a 10-year driving prohibition. The sentencing decision was made in Summerside following a hearing where Judge MacKay expressed the commonality of such occurrences on Prince Edward Island, emphasizing that nobody, especially the accused who was visibly impaired and awaiting a prior sentence, should have been behind the wheel.
The court proceedings revealed that Angelina Bernard, with a history of impaired driving offenses, had not yet been sentenced for a previous incident when the fatal crash took place in East Bideford. Judge MacKay referred to the tragic event as an “unnecessary tragedy,” highlighting that despite the defendant’s personal struggles and addiction issues, the decision to drink and drive was a conscious choice with enduring consequences for the families involved.
Angelina Bernard, who has been in custody since her arrest, received credit for the time served, resulting in a deduction of 336 days from her sentence. The sentencing session, attended by Bernard and her legal representative, concluded with her signing paperwork and exiting the courtroom in silence as onlookers observed.
In response to the sentencing outcome, Alyssa Jo Bernard, sister of one of the deceased victims, expressed empathy towards Angelina, acknowledging the sorrowful journey the defendant now faces. She emphasized the broader impact on the Lennox Island community and expressed a desire for healing and awareness to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Misti Myers, the stepdaughter of Kevin Labobe, echoed sentiments of loss and emphasized that no sentence could equate to the profound impact of the tragedy. Myers conveyed that while the sentencing may offer some level of accountability and closure for some, it cannot erase the profound loss experienced by those affected.
The community hopes that the sentencing will bring a sense of justice and closure to the affected families, signaling a starting point for healing and a collective effort to prevent similar devastating incidents from occurring in the future.