Brodie gets 9 years

UPDATE: 12 p.m.

While Justice Martha Devlin says the rehabilitation of Donald Brodie should not be overlooked in her sentencing, she's not convinced the sentence she imposed will have any impact on him changing his ways.

Brodie was sentenced to nine years in jail for running down a paper carrier while fleeing from police on Dec. 6, 2013. The chase began when Brodie blew through a police check stop on Springfield Road, leading police on a high-speed chase through Rutland.

Brodie has 43 convictions in the past 18 years, many from violent offences, and he was on probation during the 2013 chase. 

On Tuesday, Crown prosecutor David Grabavac argued Brodie's history shows he is beyond rehabilitation.

While Justice Devlin held out hope that Brodie could turn his life around, she said separating him from society was her top priority in sentencing.

The paper carrier Brodie hit, Steve Kania, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and is unable to live on his own to this day. At 45-years-old, he now lives in a seniors' care home.

Brodie was handed a nine-year sentence for flight from police causing bodily harm and a five-year sentence for criminal negligence causing bodily harm, to be served at the same time. He was given credit for 90 days of presentence custody.

Additionally, Brodie will be prohibited from driving for 10 years after he's released from custody.

ORIGINAL: 10:55 a.m.

Donald Brodie will spend the next nine years behind bars for running down a Kelowna paper carrier nearly four years ago.

Justice Martha Devlin handed down the sentence in a Kelowna courtroom Wednesday morning.

Brodie was found guilty in September of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and flight from police causing bodily harm.

Crown had asked for a 10-year sentence while defence attorney John Gustafson said three to four years was fitting, saying his client is working to turn his life around.

Brodie was one of three people in a vehicle that blew through a police check stop on Dec. 6, 2013. A lengthy chase ensued, ending when the car careened off the road, striking Steve Kania.

Nathan Fahl was originally charged, however, Brodie appealed to police and the media that he was behind the wheel.

When charges were dropped against Fahl and later laid against Brodie, he changed his tune, saying he only confessed to help out his friend.

Kania suffered a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of the crash. The 45-year-old now lives in a seniors' care facility.