Trial ends with a sentence and the accused going free

Manslaughter and dangerous driving causing death charges were withdrawn during a trial in Grande Prairie Court of Queen’s Bench Thursday. 

Michael Ginter had been facing four charges after the 2016 death of 34-year-old Niklas Steenhuisen.
 
Steenhuisen was trying to stop someone he had found in his truck. The suspect ran to another truck, which was stolen, and took off. Steenhuisen had jumped on the running board of that truck and died when pinned against another vehicle.
 
Ginter was found guilty on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident where there is a death and also pleaded guilty to a possession of stolen property charge.
 
He was given a 17-month total sentence on those two counts. After credit is given for time already spent in jail, he has no time left to serve. Ginter had spent over 13 months in jail before trial. An accused person gets 1.5 days credit for every day spent in pre-trial custody.

The Crown told the court it was frustrated over the time it took to get Ginter to trial and that enough time passed for him to get in and out of jail. 
 
Ginter was originally charged with murder, but that charge was lowered to manslaughter during a preliminary hearing held in March of 2017.
 
The judge cited aggravating factors like Ginter not only fleeing, but trying to destroy evidence by setting a stolen truck on fire, and getting a friend to help him, when handing down the sentence. He said those outweighed mitigating factors like Ginter’s child being apprehended after he was charged with murder and some strict bail conditions and what the judge described as “harsh treatment by authorities, ” although he did also mention Ginter had several breach of conditions charges as well.
 
There were also arguments over the reading of victim impact statements. The judge agreed with the defence that those statements should not be read out in court as they related to Mr. Steenhuisen’s death, not the charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

EDITOR’S NOTE/UPDATE: This story has been corrected to say the Crown was frustrated with the time it took to get to trial.