Sask. Woman sentenced to 6 years for a drunk driving accident who killed mother and daughter

A woman who guided the wrong road on a divided highway and crashed in front of a SUV, killing the two women inside, will discount a prison sentence of six years.

Brittany Barry, 33, declared himself guilty of drunk driving causing the death of Laura Hannah, 53 years old, and Jamie Hannah, 20 years old, and injuring her two children who were in the vehicle with her.

The collision took place on October 19, 2024, around 9:45 pm CST on the highway 11 near Dundurn, about 35 kilometers south -East of Saskatoon.

According to an agreed declaration of the facts presented in court, mother and daughter Laura and Jamie Hannah died with impact when Barry’s truck slammed against their vehicle.

Barry’s two children suffered injuries, including a fractured spine and a broken leg, which required that one of them was transported by plane by Stars Air Ambulance.

Barry said to the officers on the scene: “I didn’t drink so much”, but the officers said they could smell the alcohol on the breath and when they searched his truck, they found an almost empty bottle of red wine on the rear seat.

Barry failed an ethylometer test on the scene and the detachment of RCMP, his breath samples showed that he had a level of alcohol in his blood twice and a half times greater than the legal limit.

In an apparition in court in January, Barry’s lawyer, Brian Pfefferle, said that Barry would have declared himself guilty of a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death, but Friday, Barry instead declared himself guilty of drunk driving causing death and drunk guide causing physical damage.

Impact statements of the victims

The classroom of the provincial court of Saskatoon was full on Friday with family members and friends of the victims.

Reanne Hannah, daughter of Laura and sister of Jamie, described the trio as the best friends who became particularly close to her father’s death in 2016.

“They were my whole life,” said Reanne in court.

“I am a strong supporter of justice and I believe that the price you pay for your actions is important and deserved. I hope you do it through all this with God by your side. I still can’t tell you that they will lose you, but I hope one day.”

Laura’s partner Ron Krause remembered the two women as kind, caring and beautiful people from the world.

“You, Brittany (Barry), killed my partner Laura and her daughter Jamie and changed my life forever,” said Krause in Barry.

Barry did not say anything in court, but had written a statement that the judge read aloud.

He said he was “deeply sorry”, he took the life of two people and wounded his children.

“146 days have passed for all of you without Laura and Jamie and I think about it every day. Why are two people who have done nothing wrong are those most damaged by my actions? Why did they die and not me?”

He said he wanted to declare himself guilty as quickly as possible to save the family from passing a process.

Outside the court, family members issued a declaration to the media who commemorate Laura and Jamie Hannah.

“Laura and Jamie were two people full of life and that potential disappeared,” said Laura Karen Seinen’s sister. “It’s an unspeakable loss.”

The family members wore shirts that said “coffee and gratitude”.

“A few years ago, she (Laura) started sharing coffee and gratitude (post) on social media,” said Seinen.

“The shirts are a tribute to her and Jamie.”

Decision of the judge

The crown and the defense have jointly recommended a prison sentence of six years and a seven -year guide ban.

Judge Bruce Bauer accepted the joint presentation.

“The nature of this crime is such that the imposed sentence must dissuade others from committing these types of crimes,” said Bauer.

“The communities lose too many lives for those who drink and guide.”