An Ottawa man who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving killing two people is awaiting sentencing.  

22-year-old Simon Banke pleaded guilty in May to two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

In September 2010, Banke was behind the wheel of a car that struck and killed 36-year-old Leo Paul Regnier and his 35-year-old wife Sherrianne.

They were waiting at a temporary bus stop on Albert St. at around 10:30 p.m. on September 16, 2010 when Banke sped towards them and struck them.

Leo Paul Regnier died at the scene. His wife died in hospital from her injuries days later.

The couple left behind three daughters, Sarah, 15, Jessica, 13, and Isabella, 9.

Family members read victim impact statements in court on Wednesday describing how the crash has changed their lives.

In part of her statement, Jessica Regnier wrote, "before they died, I truly considered my life to be perfect...I still mourn the loss of my parents but I am no longer angry or depressed about it. I hold no animosity for the accused."

Earlier this year, Banke admitted to a judge he was driving at a “dangerously high rate of speed” the night he struck the Regniers.

In her victim impact statement, Helen Depatie, Sherrianne Regnier’s mother said, "Some days are so hard to get through that I can't wait to get to bed to try to shut it off. It doesn't help though. I dream of her asking for help and I can't help her. Then I wake up in a panic and have to go through another day the same way...Our sentence is for life."

The Regniers’ daughters now live with their aunt Julie Desgroseillers, Leo Paul Regnier's sister.

She told the court she hears the girls weeping in their rooms at night, asking “'Why did mommy and daddy have to be there at that time...Who is going to walk me down the aisle when I get married, who is going to sit in the audience when I graduate...?'"

“I would like to see him get whatever he deserves, “said Suzanne Baker, Leo Paul Regnier’s sister. “I don’t know what that is because they can’t bring my brother and his wife back.”

Banke told the Regnier family he is sorry for all he has done.

“'I can only blame myself for causing three young girls to lose their parents,” he said.

"I become physically sick when I think of the lives I've taken."

Banke’s lawyer is asking for a 9 to 12 month sentence. The Crown wants him to serve a four-year sentence, and 10 year driving prohibition.  

Banke is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27th.

 

With files from CTV’s Ellen Mauro