79-year-old man who drove into a scout group in London and killed an 8-year-old girl sentenced to house arrest

The 79-year-old woman from London, Ontario, who was found guilty in 2021 of driving her car into a Boy Scout troop, killing an eight-year-old girl and injuring seven others, was sentenced Tuesday to two years of house arrest minus one day, followed by three years of probation, which includes a driving ban.

However, the entire sentence, including house arrest, is suspended pending an appeal filed on Friday by McNorgan's lawyer Phillip Millar.

Petronella McNorgan, a retired teacher, was found guilty in April of one count of involuntary manslaughter and seven counts of assault.

To protect the identity of the victims, there is a ban on publication.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Pamela Hebner delivered the verdict at the London courthouse.

The courtroom was packed with family members of the victims, including the mother and father of the deceased eight-year-old. Her parents and others who had come to support the victims declined to comment after the verdict was announced.

McNorgan was driving her Honda CRV westbound through the intersection of Wonderland Road and Riverside Drive at a high rate of speed on the evening of November 30, 2021, reaching speeds of 121 km/h.

The vehicle struck the rear bumper of a Jeep stopped at a red light and struck a light pole, then struck a group of tour guides and their companions who were walking along a sidewalk to a nearby green space to make snowy owls.

Seven other members of the troop who were traveling with the group suffered injuries, some of them life-changing.

During the sentencing in June, the eight-year-old's parents made statements about how much they, as victims, mourned the loss of their daughter.

McNorgan also read an apology letter in court, which said: “I want you to know that I have never intentionally hurt anyone.”

“Something is missing” in the apology, says Richter

In sentencing, Hebner said she took into account that McNorgan had no criminal record and was a productive member of the community. Earlier in court, Millar read 57 letters of support for McNorgan, written by family and friends.

However, the judge said she was also concerned that McNorgan's apology in court this spring did not fully acknowledge her actions.

“The letters were moving and obviously heartfelt, but I noticed something was missing,” Hebner said. “McNorgan did not admit that she did this. She expressed regret for what happened, not for what she did.”

For example, she was annoyed that McNorgan used the word “accident” in a conversation with her probation officer, Hebner said.

“I consider your refusal to accept full responsibility to be an aggravating circumstance,” Hebner said.

Hebner said McNorgan should “never drive again,” but the five-year driving ban included in her ruling was “at the limit of my jurisdiction.”

McNorgan will be 84 years old when his sentence and professional ban expire.

House arrest allows McNorgan to leave her apartment for medical appointments, attend church, meet with her lawyer and shop for essentials once a week.

The prosecution had demanded a prison sentence of four years, while the defense argued for a suspended sentence of two years.

Although the verdict provides for house arrest, it will not become final until the appeal against the verdict has been decided.

Lawyer gives reasons for appeal

Millar explained the reasons for the appeal to reporters, saying it was filed in part so that McNorgan could avoid a prison sentence if prison was part of Hebner's sentence.

Millar said McNorgan is a cancer survivor, suffers from diabetes and cares for her elderly husband.

“In my view, putting her in prison could be her death,” he said.

Even if his client avoids prison time, Millar wants to make legal arguments to challenge similar cases in which a negligent act could result in a prison sentence even though the defendant had no intent to harm.

Millar said the bail conditions in place during the appeal would lift the house arrest but would still include a driving ban.

“Of course, we are relieved that she will not go to prison,” he told reporters.

Millar said the driving ban was appropriate, but McNorgan, who goes by Ronnie, continues to insist her vehicle's brakes were not working properly that night. Expert evidence presented during the trial shows the accelerator pedal was depressed as the car went through the intersection and the brakes were not touched.