UPDATE: Impaired driver who killed Laurier dean gets six years in prison

KITCHENER - A Cambridge man who was impaired by marijuana when his car struck and killed Leanne Holland Brown, a Wilfrid Laurier University dean out for an afternoon walk, has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Ronald Rees, 57, was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

Rees had smoked a full marijuana cigarette shortly before his car struck Brown. His THC levels were almost four times the legal limit.

Mr. Rees exhibited a fundamental lapse in judgment and a total disregard for others in the community," Justice John Lynch said.

On April 24, 2019, just before 2 p.m., Brown and a female friend were walking on the sidewalk on Central Street in Waterloo.

Rees's Nissan Altima had been stopped but then accelerated rapidly with its tires squealing. The car mounted the curb in front of MacGregor Public School and continued on the sidewalk toward the pair, who leaped onto the grass to avoid getting hit.

His car continued to accelerate and drove onto the grass toward them. They tried to jump out of the car's path but Brown was struck.

The Altima carried Brown several metres before it slammed into a hydro pole.

Rees's car was travelling about 60 km/h when it hit Brown and 69 km/h when it hit the hydro pole.

Brown, 43, Laurier's longtime dean of students, was pronounced dead in hospital.

Victim impact read out in court painted a picture of a kind, compassionate and much-loved woman.

The death of Ms. Holland Brown has profoundly impacted her family, friends and colleagues, as well as the community at large," Lynch said.

Rees apologized in court.

I know what I did was wrong. I have no one to blame but myself."

Rees got credit for pleading guilty and accepting responsibility for his actions. After presentence custody is subtracted, he has another four years and seven months to serve.

The Crown had sought seven years in prison; the defence asked for five.

More to come.

Gordon Paul is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on crime for the Record. Reach him via email: gpaul@therecord.com