Jamie Sarkonak: She was killed by a carjacker on meth. Her family deserved to be heard in court

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNP Comment Jamie Sarkonak: She was killed by a carjacker on meth. Her family deserved to be heard in court Duane Nepoose killed a young Calgary girl by speeding through a red light at over 170 km/h. A judge said too many victim impact statements were filed in response Author of the article: By Jamie Sarkonak Published Sep 11, 2026 Last updated 55 minutes ago 4 minute read Join the conversation A memorial at the location of a fatal collision at Southland Drive and Macleod Trail on Saturday December 28, 2024. Nine-year-old Victoria Desjardins was killed and several others injured on Boxing Day after a robbery suspect drove at high speed through a red light at the intersection colliding with several vehicles. PHOTO BY GAVIN YOUNG/POSTMEDIA Article content It was the day after Christmas, 2024, and nine-year-old Victoria Desjardins was riding in the car as her mom drove through the Calgary intersection of Southland Drive and Macleod Trail when a Dodge Caravan came careening towards her at 170 kilometres per hour through a red light. The driver, repeat criminal Duane Nepoose, was high on meth and probably also adrenaline — he had just violently robbed the car from its owner and was now evading police. The impact was so brutal that Desjardins couldn’t survive her injuries; Nepoose, however, lived. Article content Article content He was sentenced to 10 years’ jail at the end of August, having pleaded guilty to robbery, fleeing police, dangerous driving causing death and three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm (Desjardins’ mother and sister were seriously injured, as was another woman in a different vehicle). Six total charges, down from the initial 11. But the sentencing decision wasn’t solely a condemnation of Nepoose’s crimes: the judge also admonished the Crown prosecutor for allowing the victims too much leeway to express their loss. Article content RECOMMENDED VIDEOS Article content Right? The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture. Sign Up By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Justice Indra Maharaj wrote that the victim impact statements filed in this case were “unusual number, breadth, scope, and content.” Twenty-two were…