'It's unforgivable': Driver in triple fatal 2020 crash shares remorse, awaits sentencing

Oscar Benjumea, 25, was taken into police custody and to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries on July 3, 2020.

Edmonton — The Ontario man who drove his sportscar into a south Edmonton Starbucks, killing all three of his passengers, expressed remorse in court on Thursday as he awaits his sentence next month.

Oscar Benjumea, 27, pleaded guilty in May to three counts of dangerous driving causing death in the July 3, 2020 crash, as well as to a fourth count of failing to stop at an accident involving death.

On Thursday, a tearful Benjumea addressed the court, including the families of the three people who died in his vehicle.

“There's nothing I can ever do or say that would change the tragic outcome,” he said. "I'll carry this on my conscience and bear this punishment as long as I live.”

Benjumea said he was sorry for his mistakes and that he was in “constant torment” over his actions.

"I'm terribly sorry for what I've done. It's unforgivable,” he said.

"If given the choice, I would give up my life for theirs in a heartbeat.”

The sentencing hearing began in Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in October but concluded on Thursday after a break of several weeks.

Justice Peter Michalyshyn said he expects to deliver his sentence on Jan. 14.

‘A PATENTLY DANGEROUS MANNER’

On Monday, Crown prosecutors argued for 12-year sentences for each death to be served concurrently, along with one year for failing to stop, resulting in a potential 13-year sentence.

“As the driver, Mr. Benjumea ought to have exercised a duty of care towards his passengers,” Crown prosecutor Kate Andress said.

“Instead, he drove in a patently dangerous manner which put the lives of everyone around him at risk, and unfortunately, but predictably, killed all of his passengers when he caused a catastrophic collision.”

Yesterday, defence lawyer Dino Bottos argued for a sentence of four years for each of the three deaths to be served concurrently as well as an additional term of one to two years for failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

Court must be careful not to impose a sentence that might make some members of the public feel that their desire for vengeance has been satisfied,” Bottos said, noting no sentence would lessen the anguish of the victims’ families.

"We understand that some members of the public would like you to lock Mr. Benjumea up and throw away the key ... however that is not how we sentence offenders in Canada."

‘SO FAST MY VEHICLE SHOOK’

According to an agreed statement of facts, Benjumea was driving his 2018 Audi R S5 at a speed of up to 193 km/h in an area with a posted speed limit of 60 km/h after leaving a Whyte Avenue bar with the three others after 2 a.m.

A witness told investigators the Audi was travelling "so fast my vehicle shook when he drove by us" as he drove south on Calgary Trail.

Benjumea lost control of the vehicle, hitting a curb and sending the vehicle airborne before it slid across a grassy area and slammed into the Starbucks near 55 Avenue.

His passengers were all killed in the crash: 21-year-old Georgia Donovan, 20-year-old Emma Macarthur, and 32-year-old Faisal Yousef.

The impact sheared off the passenger side of the vehicle as well as the roof and parts of the hood, leaving the engine exposed.

A 911 call played in court from a witness who pulled Benjumea from the wreckage described an injured, disoriented and suicidal Benjumea wandering around the crash site.

Court also saw surveillance video showing the Audi crash into the Starbucks before Benjumea fled the area by making his way through parking lots of several businesses along Calgary Trail.

He was arrested 10 hours later at his home in southwest Edmonton and taken to hospital with cuts, a fractured arm, and broken fingers.