A Kelowna man has been sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted of running over a flag person while driving drunk last summer.

Raymond Robert Shaw, 29, had pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing the death of Theresa Neuman, who was working on a construction site.

Shaw has worked to atone for his crime, said his lawyer, Dennis Morgan, who noted his client pleaded guilty right away, and issued a personal apology.

"He did meet with Patrick Buchanan. That's the brother of the lady who was killed," he said. "A difficult meeting for both men, and it went very well."

Morgan said Shaw might have been able to get a sentence of house arrest, rather than prison, but instead, Shaw insisted he deserved to go to jail.

He said Shaw is also planning to work to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

"Mr. Buchanan suggested, and Mr. Shaw agreed, that when he gets out of jail, they go together and talk to high school kids and talk about the dangers of drinking and driving, the devastating effects, from both perspectives."
 
The Crown had asked for three years in prison. But in this case, the judge opted for a shorter sentence of two years, plus 18 months on probation.