Emotions run high at sentencing hearing for man convicted in fatal drunk driving crash

A Scarborough woman whose daughter and husband were both killed in a wrong-way drunk driving crash in 2012 likened herself to a “walking corpse” at the sentencing hearing for the man convicted in the deaths.

Antonette Wijeratne suffered serious injuries in the crash, but on Friday she gave a stirring victim impact statement, saying she essentially died alongside her husband and daughter on that ill-fated August night on Highway 427 in Mississauga.

“I never imagined a disaster of this nature would ever fall upon us,” she said.

“I’m like a walking corpse. I feel dead because of the senseless decision to drink and drive.”

Sabastian Prosa was found guilty on 12 charges, including impaired driving causing death in the crash that killed Jayantha Wijeratne, 49, and his 16-year-old daughter, Eleesha.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

At Friday’s hearing, Wijeratne said she brought her family to Canada from Sri Lanka for a better life, but now regrets the decision that ultimately led to tragedy.

A representative from MADD Canada stood by her for support as she gave the emotional statement, which appeared to bring Prosa to tears.

Brian Wijeratne also addressed the court, speaking of the immense pain of losing his sister, who he called “his shadow.”

“Each obstacle we faced, we had each other,” he said. “We were a team, tackling life together.”

He called his father his “rock” and “guiding light.”

Prosa, who was 19 years old at the time, drove the wrong way down a QEW ramp on Highway 427 in Mississauga on Aug. 5, hitting the Wijeratne’s minivan head-on.

His friends testified that he downed numerous shots of vodka at a home and a Toronto bar before he inexplicably got behind the wheel.

Prosa’s defence futilely tried to argue that his drinks were spiked with a date rape drug.

The Crown is seeking an eight year sentence.