By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter - Country 95 News

Lethbridge Man Sentenced for 2014 Fatal Hit and Run

Jan 20, 2016 | 3:25 PM

LETHBRIDGE: A hit and run that claimed the life of 45-year old Lorne Miller in January of 2014, has resulted in a 15-month jail sentence for the man who hit him.

Miller was riding his bike home from work around 3-AM, when 31-year old Edward James Mikla struck him from behind with his vehicle and fled the scene. It wasn’t until two days later that Mikla turned himself in to police, after consulting with a lawyer.

Miller survived that night, but suffered extensive head trauma, and died as a result of his injuries in May of 2014.

The Crown had asked for four years in prison and a 25-year driving, while the defence countered by asking for five months to one year in jail, followed by 18-months of probation and a five year driving ban.

The argument from Crown prosecutor Bill Wister had centred around sending a message to other drivers, that there is no legal benefit to fleeing the scene of a collision. He explained that impaired driving and dangerous driving causing death can get you several years in prison, and by giving someone a year or less for a hit and run, a “cold and calculating individual” guilty of one of those offences, is likely to flee to save themselves.

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

While handing down his sentence, Justice Rodney Jerke stated that the Crown’s recommendation was too high, as someone can only be sentenced for what the facts say they did, and not what we think they did. Jerke also credited Mikla with showing genuine remorse, and a pre-sentence report that says he’s a strong candidate for rehabilitation.

In addition to the jail time, Mikla was given 18-months of probation and a five year driving ban, which will begin after he is released from custody.