A man charged after the death of a Red Deerian who was trying to stop thieves from stealing his vehicle last year has been sentenced in Red Deer Provincial Court.
Alexander Michael Talbot, 25, of no fixed address in Red Deer, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after Dawson Wegner Cramer, 23, was killed March 16th in the Normandeau neighbourhood.
He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on Monday afternoon.
Talbot was initially charged with manslaughter last year. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge last month. He was also charged with theft of a motor vehicle, a charge that was dropped as a result of the guilty plea.
In an Agreed Statement of Facts, court heard Talbot left the Aladdin Motor Inn in Red Deer and saw an F360 cube truck parked at 31 Nordegg Cres., the residence of Wegner Cramer.
The doors of the cube truck were unlocked and Talbot entered the driver’s side door. Court heard that Talbot saw the brakes to the vehicle did not work properly.
The Agreed Statement of Facts also said the parking brake was on in the vehicle and Talbot could not figure out how to release it. Talbot was also too short to reach the pedals.
Court heard that Wegner Cramer exited his residence wearing boots and boxers and carried a machete. He tapped on the driver’s side window with the machete, startling Talbot.
The Agreed Statement of Facts said Talbot, knowing that he was not capable of driving the vehicle, began to accelerate and took a left-hand turn. Talbot drove the vehicle into Wegner Cramer, which resulted in his death.
Talbot continued driving, despite feeling a ‘thump’ and the vehicle was abandoned on Page Ave.
Three victim impact statements from Lynn Cramer, John Cramer and Brandon Cramer, were read in court by Crown Prosecutor Katherine Clarey.
“DJ was training to be a heavy duty mechanic. He was ambitious and he had determination to succeed,” John’s statement read. “Now that dream has ended. I will never get to fish with my son again, never get to ski with him again. I will never be able to hug him again nor will he hug me.
“Our lives have changed in the worst ways by this senseless act.”
Lynn’s victim impact statement read, “There is an emptiness inside of me since Dawson’s death that will haunt me to the day I die. DJ was and always will be the light of my life. I cry everyday for him.
“I feel I have been robbed not only of my son, but for my joy of life. Dawson was given a death sentence and we were given a life sentence.”
Clarey and Defense Lawyer Andrew Phypers made a joint submission for the sentence which included three and a half years in prison.
Phypers told the court that Talbot acknowledges he has a drug use problem and addiction.
“He was supporting that addiction by theft. That evening happened in an instant and he wishes he could go back and undo that evening,” he said. “He can’t stop thinking about this.”
Talbot has been in custody since March 26th, 2016 and will be granted time and a half credit for time already served. At the time of his sentence on Monday, that would mean Talbot had 837 days left to serve. He was also sentenced to a three year driving prohibition as well as a DNA order and lifetime firearms ban.
RCMP also charged Amanda Jo-Lynn Larsen, 28, with possession of stolen property over $5,000 as a result of her involvement in the theft of Wegner Cramer’s vehicle.
Larsen, who remains in custody returns to Red Deer court on March 6th.
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
