Sarah Wensley's dad says justice system helped kill teen

David Wensley is seven months past sugar-coating his thoughts on the Saskatchewan justice system.

Wensley's 17-year-old daughter Sarah, and her high school classmate James Haughey, were killed in May when a stolen truck broadsided their car. The two teens were on their way to a track practice when they died.

The two girls in the stolen truck have since pleaded guilty to their roles in the fatal crash. The pleas bring little comfort to Dave Wensley.

As the court process progressed, he learned about the young women's criminal histories.

These aren't good kids.- Dave Wensley

"These aren't good kids, they're gang affiliated, they're just -- they're bad people," he said in an interview with CBC.

"And they just keep getting chances, so many chances, until they finally kill someone."

Frustrations

Since the May 5 accident, Wensley has gone to court appearances, met with prosecutors and the chief of police. He's grown more confused and angry as time passed.

Cheyann Peeteetuce, who admitted driving drunk behind the wheel of the stolen truck, was on probation at the time of the crash for two other auto thefts in January.

The youth travelling with her has pleaded guilty to encouraging Peeteetuce not to stop after a police officer turned on his emergency lights. At that court appearance, she also pleaded guilty to joyriding, resisting arrest and being in a stolen car a month before the crash.

To say this doesn't sit well with David Wensley is an understatement.

"Well, it's ridiculous, you know. How many chances does a person get before they're actually held responsible," he said.

Something don't feel right.- Dave Wensley

Wensley is frustrated by just about every step of the process.

He doesn't think that Peeteetuce's passenger should be sentenced as a youth. She was 17 at the time of the crash, but turned 18 shortly after.

He disputes the police characterization of what happened, from when officers first encountered the stolen truck to when the officer turned on his emergency lights, triggering Peeteetuce to accelerate away and through the busy intersection.

"I asked several questions about what was going on when the girls were being followed," he said.

"Something don't feel right."

And he's not pleased with Peeteetuce's potential sentence. He said the prosecutor told him that the range is seven to 11 years, a length of time he doesn't feel reflects the seriousness of what happened.

Both women are back in court in January for sentencing.