Thomas Hennig was sentenced to two years incarceration and a five-year driving ban in connection with the death of David Robb.
Earlier this month, the Whitestone man was found guilty of dangerous driving which caused the death of David Robb in a crash on Highway 124 last year. Hennig was originally meant to appear for a Not Criminal Responsible hearing, but his lawyer told the judge there wasn’t enough evidence to support the argument.
Hennig said, “a day does not go by that I do not think about the accident. I wish it was me, not Robb. Each day I live with self-doubt, I wish I made different choices. I know the words I say won’t make you forgive me.” After Hennig had broken up with his girlfriend in North Bay, he sent 21 texts and made 14 phone calls to her in the 12 minutes leading up to the fatal accident on Highway 124. Hennig was operating a pick-up truck barefoot driving 144 km/hr. in an 80km/hr. zone.
Defence lawyer David Lakie had asked for 15 months and per doctor recommendations, that Hennig spends as much of his sentence as possible at St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre in Brockville. Lakie cited doctor reports saying “If not at the time certainly before and after, Hennig was frantically engaged in communication with a romantic interest that went sour on him… suffering from rapid cycling bipolar disorder (which) was the driving force behind the offence. He was a youthful offender who at the time was suffering from illness not properly diagnosed or treated.”
The Crown, Steven Scharger had asked that Hennig receive a 3-year sentence. Scharger said, “This is not a mental health case, it’s a distracted driving case, Hennig had so many other options than to get behind the wheel when he was upset, and he should have known better.”
There were ten victim impact statements. Laurie Robb, widow of the late David Robb said, the tears never end and she will have to watch her 3 children go through life alone. She added the loss of income and without his moral support and help around the home, make her feel vulnerable.
The 24-year-old man was found guilty of operating a motor vehicle in a dangerous manner causing death. Hennig says after he has finished serving his sentence, he wants to go to University and to become the best, most upstanding citizen that he can be.