Drug impaired driver sentenced in Nanaimo for death of retired RCMP officer

A longtime opioid addict, Hainsworth had several drugs detected in blood samples following the damaging collision, including methamphetamine.

She pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and two impaired driving causing bodily harm charges in September and was sentenced to five years in jail to conclude a Tuesday, Nov. 12 sentencing hearing in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo.

Hainsworth presented as drowsy, lethargic and “on the nod” by emergency responders who dealt with her that day.

Justice Robin Baird said Hainsworth’s completely avoidable actions permanently altered many lives.

“It’s all your fault, it’s all on you,” Baird told a visibly emotional Hainsworth as she sat in the prisoner’s box.

Gareth Rees was described in court as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. (submitted photo)

The judge addressed various facts presented by emergency responders and civilian witnesses, which showed Hainsworth didn’t brake prior to impact, or take any evasive action.

“She didn’t realize what was happening and took no steps to avoid the accident whatsoever. I think that’s the measure of the degree of impairment that we’re talking about here,” judge Baird said.

Hainsworth admitted to using “a point” of heroin with her passenger several hours before the mid-day collision.

The offender was on a 150 milligram-a-day dosage of morphine which court heard was in response to a 2013 incident in which Hainsworth was injured by an impaired driver.

Hainsworth’s car hit the Rees’ truck on the driver’s side door, with the truck flipping and ending up in the ditch.

A Good Samaritan heard Gareth Rees saying, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” as he sat upside down, his neck pinned by his seatbelt.

An autopsy showed he died of a heart attack, either due to trauma from being extricated or from the seatbelt.

Telling court Hainsworth’s poor childhood and accident more than a decade ago deserves recognition and sympathy, judge Baird said her actions leading to a death and multiple injuries were pronounced and shocking.

“Nothing I can do will repair the awful damage that you caused so recklessly, so pointlessly, so avoidably on March 22, 2019.”

Gareth Rees pictured with wife Bonnie and children Jennifer and Barry (submitted photo)

Hainsworth’s driving record includes operating uninsured vehicles and 24-hour roadside prohibitions.

The car she was driving in the Gareth Rees case belonged to a friend which had not been insured since 2017.

Driving conditions were considered ideal at the time, while the car Hainsworth was operating cleared a mechanical inspection.

Hainsworth’s criminal record includes a prior three-year prison sentence for attempting to conceal cocaine in a vehicle across the border from the United States.

Crown prosecutor Basil McCormick, who successfully secured a five-year jail sentence, said very little weight should be placed on Hainsworth’s late guilty plea.

Hainsworth has been in custody since February when she was picked up by police at a Port Alberni homeless shelter after a warrant was issued for her arrest, McCormick told the court.

“It really was a case of Ms. Hainsworth avoiding dealing with this file and it resulted in excessive delay, and it also resulted in further impact on the victim’s family.”

McCormick noted there is no indication in a pre-sentence report that Hainsworth has taken counselling or any meaningful steps to address her longstanding drug addiction.

The Rees family (Barry, Bonnie and Jennifer) expressed relief when the sentencing hearing concluded and Hainsworth was escorted to prison. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Victim impact

The victim’s widow, son and daughter each presented statements on how the death of Gareth Rees, a nearly 30-year member of the RCMP, derailed their lives.

Bonnie Rees outlined her painful new reality, involving chronic pain from the crash, as well as a significant emotional toll involving depression and anxiety.

She and her husband of 49 years were headed to their Cameron Lake cabin that horrific day.

“I began keeping things locked up inside. I began to withdraw from friends that Gary and I used to do things with. The memories are too painful to deal with. I lost interest in the things I used to enjoy doing. I felt very frustrated with my inability to figure things out, or remember certain things.”

She became more isolated, telling the court the sadness of her reality is overwhelming.

Bonnie Rees said continuous delays in the case created mounting stress on their family.

“After the accident I began smoking. I had been a non-smoker for almost 25 years. At first it was a crutch, now it’s both a crutch and a habit.”

Barry Rees received a phone call from emergency responders at the crash scene that his father was dead.

“I can’t truly explain the pain I felt that moment, it was like someone ripped my heart out – the shock, the disbelief – anger that my hero, my father was gone.”

The Regina, Sask. resident rushed to the west coast to assist his ailing mother.

He said his mother was walking around like a zombie in the days after Gareth was gone, was crying uncontrollably and had difficulty communicating.

Barry Rees implored Hainsworth to take true responsibility and turn her life around.

“I don’t mean telling me you’re sorry, show me you’re sorry, show me the responsibility you need to take. Get help, get clean, get sober. Become a productive member of society – that is owed to my family, that is owed to my father.”

Daughter Jennifer left her career in Saskatchewan to move in with and support her mother in Parksville.

“The day that Belinda pleaded guilty, was the day I got my mom back…Today’s been a long time coming, it is bittersweet.”

She said her father served until the end, saying he did his job as a retired police officer until his last breath by taking an unsafe driver off the road.

“I truly hope that that person can become a better person from this and that my father’s death isn’t in vain…”

Hainsworth made a brief apology to the Rees family, saying she had no intention of the case proceeding to trial.

Gareth Rees was approaching his 75th birthday when the former RCMP officer’s life was cut short. (submitted photo)

Tuesday’s proceedings resulted in an overflowing gallery of about 30 family, friends and former RCMP colleagues of Gareth Rees.

With 398 days of pretrial credit banked, Hainsworth has a little under four years left on her sentence.

A ten-year driving prohibition will take effect once she’s released from custody, while a lifetime firearm and prohibited weapons ban also applies to Hainsworth.

Her lawyer Bobby Movassaghi told court Hainsworth has not driven since the fatal incident.

Canadian case law dictates sentences for impaired driving causing death generally result between two to three and eight to 10 years in prison, with punishments escalating in recent years.

Belinda Hainsworth pleaded guilty more than five years after causing a fatal drug impaired crash on Hwy. 4 between Cameron Lake and Whiskey Creek. (Facebook)

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by Ian Holmes

Drug impaired driver sentenced in Nanaimo for death of retired RCMP officer

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