Genuine remorse and a well-established rehabilitation enabled a repentant drug trafficker to avoid a long prison sentence. Verne Manhertz is sentenced to 33 months in prison for killing a young mother with his vehicle during a drug deal.
The death of Amanda Bradley is “tragic and very sad,” Judge David-Emmanuel Simon said Wednesday before many relatives of the accused and the victim in a crowded room at the Montreal courthouse.
The death of this 30-year-old mother of two surprisingly received no media coverage. On the evening of August 14, 2020, Amanda Bradley met Verne Manhertz to buy drugs on Rodney Street, in Pointe-Claire, in the west of Montreal. According to witnesses, a conflict broke out between the two.
For some unknown reason, Amanda Bradley climbed onto the hood of the defendant’s vehicle and clung to one of the sides. The vehicle starts off with a bang. The woman falls violently against the ground 52 meters further. She would die three days later, alone in hospital, due to COVID-19 restrictions. A nightmare for those close to him.
Verne Manhertz leaves the scene without helping the victim, believing that she was “OK”. A few minutes later, he makes another drug deal. He was arrested a few days later in possession of three cell phones and 11 kinds of drugs, including cocaine and “crystal meth”. He was then under two probations.
In April 2022, the 39-year-old Montrealer pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and drug trafficking charges. The Crown was asking for a six-year prison sentence, including four and a half years for dangerous driving. The defense was asking for just one year in prison.
The judge retained a long list of aggravating factors, including the context of drug trafficking and the flight of the accused, who “never called 911”. The judge also cites the defendant’s numerous criminal records and the dramatic consequences for the relatives of the victim.
“By accelerating, with the victim on the hood, Mr. Manhertz caused the death [de la victime]. However, this gesture was not premeditated and took place spontaneously in an unexpected context. Mr. Manhertz did not control the actions of the victim, who voluntarily climbed on the hood of his vehicle, ”analyzes the judge.
Verne Manhertz’s sincere remorse and rehabilitation well underway convinced the judge to favor a less severe sentence. Since 2020, the accused has indeed changed his life. He left the criminal world, went to psychotherapy and worked as an electrician. His risk of recidivism is low, according to the judge.
The judge concludes that the appropriate sentence is 18 months for the narcotics charges and two years for the dangerous driving. However, this sentence of three and a half years is “too long” and could “jeopardize the progress of Verne Manhertz”, according to the judge. He therefore imposed an aggregate sentence of 33 months in custody and no driving prohibition.
Me Anik Archambault represented the public ministry, while Me Christian Gauthier defended the accused.