The sentence appeal of a Winnipeg man convicted of impaired driving causing death in a case that sparked public outrage has been turfed by the court.
Last November, a provincial court judge sentenced Tyler Scott Goodman to seven years — six for impaired driving causing death and one for leaving the scene — for the collision that killed Jordyn Reimer on May 1, 2022.
Reimer, 24, was on the way to pick up a friend when Goodman, who had consumed nine or 10 beers at a Transcona bar, slammed his truck into her vehicle at 108 km/h after blowing through a stop sign at Kildare Avenue West and Bond Street.
GOFUNDME
Jordyn Reimer, 24, was killed on May 1, 2022 when Tyler Scott Goodman slammed his truck into her vehicle at 108 km/h after blowing through a stop sign at Kildare Avenue West and Bond Street.
The intersection is in a 50 km/h zone.
Goodman filed a notice in Manitoba Court of Appeal in December seeking to reduce his sentence. His lawyer, Mat Schwartz, had argued at sentencing that he should have been given 5 1/2 years.
But Goodman failed to file evidence with the court in support of his appeal. It was considered abandoned as of Monday, records show.
Goodman, who is being held at Stony Mountain penitentiary, had filed his notice citing a single ground for appeal — that the sentence he received is unfit.
Goodman intended to file for Legal Aid coverage for his appeal, Schwartz said in filings last December. It’s unclear, based on court records, whether that coverage was approved.
The appeal’s dismissal gives little comfort to the parents of his victim, Karen and Doug Reimer, who are continuing to advocate over the prosecution’s decision not to pursue charges against one of Goodman’s passengers.
“We’ll be relieved,” Karen Reimer said of the appeal’s dismissal. “But we’re still very frustrated.”
Her husband said he would feel more relief if the appeal was rejected on its merits, rather than Goodman missing a filing deadline.
Goodman rebuffed the pleas of an acquaintance who tried to get him not to drive. The acquaintance took his keys, but a friend got them back, claiming he would drive in Goodman’s place but instead rode in a passenger seat, court heard.
The Reimers said Monday that could amount to criminal negligence causing death — but Crown prosecutors declined to lay the charge, even though Winnipeg police recommended it based on the evidence investigators gathered.
The parents met with provincial Justice Minister Matt Wiebe in March, asking for the province to call in out-of-province prosecutors to review the decision not to charge the passenger.
The grieving parents have not heard back from the minister in the months since, they said, despite emails and calls requesting updates from Wiebe’s office.
Asked directly whether Wiebe would order a review, press secretary Cynthia Bigrigg instead provided a prepared statement Monday claiming the attorney general cannot comment publicly or privately on individual cases.
“There’s got to be a process in place when the victims disagree with the Crown prosecutors and they don’t ever give you a proper explanation as to why they made their decision,” said Doug Reimer.
The Reimers think a successful conviction of the passenger could be precedent-setting and would send a message to would-be impaired drivers and accomplices.
“There is a likelihood of conviction… we know that it would save lives, that’s our goal,” said Karen Reimer, adding she hopes members of the public reach out to the offices of the justice minister and premier over their concerns.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik Pindera
Reporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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