A 29-year-old Nelson House man who hit and killed three young boys from the community in April 2018 and then left the scene of the collision will spend six more years in prison, a provincial court judge ruled Jan. 24.
Todd Linklater was drunk and driving back from Thompson with friends on April 28, 2018 when he hit Terrence Spence, 13, and Keethan Lobster and Mattheo Moore-Spence, both 11, who were walking and riding bikes along Provincial Road 620 around 10:30 p.m. Linklater, who had a previous conviction for impaired driving, turned himself into police about 90 minutes after the collision. He pleaded guilty in December 2019 to impaired driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.
Judge Todd Rambow gave Linklater a sentence of seven-and-a-half years in prison for impaired driving causing death, CBC reported, plus one year for leaving the scene, to be served consecutively, minus time served. Linklater has been in custody for about 21 months since he turned himself in, so he has about 72 months more to serve. Pre-trial custody is credited at 1.5 days for every day served when deducted from a sentence.
The judge said Linklater’s actions were “morally despicable” during his sentencing hearing in Nelson House Jan. 24.
“He very quickly departed the scene, he did not stop to give them aid or comfort, or call police,” said Rambow. “He left the three young boys mortally wounded lying on the ground. He thought only of himself in those moments."
Although Linklater expressed genuine remorse fo his actions., Rambow said he didn’t completely understand how his alcohol abuse affects other, noting that Linklater was prohibited from drinking or using drugs under the terms of a court order at the time of the fatal collision.
“Had he been complying with that undertaking, this tragedy would have been averted,” Rambow said.
The sentence also includes a 15-year driving prohibition.
