Karen Gillis, front left, whose 19-year-old daughter Mallory Gillis died in a Nov. 9, 2024, car crash, and her son Kevin Gillis are surrounded by supporters outside the Sydney Justice Centre on Wednesday after the driver of the car was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. In back, from left, are Lauren MacDonald, Teagan Hargreaves, Logan Cloake, Madison Johnson, Ravyn Howard and Brooklynn MacInnis. Chris Connors/Cape Breton PostArticle contentA Cape Breton man has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a car crash that killed one of his friends and injured another.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentConnell Jason MacArthur, 19, of Sydney River, was charged with dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and impaired driving causing bodily harm following a Nov. 9, 2024 accident in Howie Centre.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentMallory Gillis, 19, who was a passenger in the front seat, was ejected from the car after it swerved to avoid another vehicle that was stopped to make a turn, stuck a utility pole and rolled over several times. Another passenger was also ejected while MacArthur was remained trapped inside. All three were transported to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital where Gillis was pronounced dead.Article contentMacArthur, who previously pleaded guilty to the charges, was sentenced in Sydney provincial court Wednesday.Article content A photo of Mallory Gillis next to a bouquet of flowers. CONTRIBUTED CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentTWICE SPEED LIMITArticle contentThe court learned that MacArthur had consumed alcohol and driven at least three separate times on the night the accident took place. Immediately before the crash, MacArthur was driving 160 kilometres an hour in a 70 km/h zone while passing cars on solid double lines and his blood alcohol content 152 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood — nearly twice the legal limit of 80 milligrams.Article contentArticle contentJudge Mark Scott accepted the joint sentencing recommendation tabled by Crown attorney Glenn Gouthro and defence lawyer James Snow.Article contentIn total MacArthur was sentenced to suggested four and a half years for each of the charges that caused Gillis’s death and one year for each of the bodily harm charges.Article contentHowever, all of the sentences are concurrent, meaning MacArthur will serve a total of four and half years.Article contentHe is also banned from driving for three years upon his release and is subject to mandatory weapons prohibition.Article contentGillis’s parents, Karen Gillis and David Gillis, were surrounded by family and their daughter’s friends.Article contentAfterwards, Karen Gillis said while she’s relieved that the court process is over, the sentence wasn’t as severe as they had been hoping.Article content“Is it enough? No, but it never will be. I just hope it’s enough to make him learn his lesson and he doesn’t do it to anybody else,” she said through tears.Article contentMORE TO COMEArticle content
Cape Breton driver sentenced for crash that killed passenger
