Ronald Thistle convicted in drunk driving death of Nick Coates

Ronald Thistle has admitted to drinking the night before and the morning of a collision that claimed the life of Nick Coates nearly two years ago in St. John's.

An agreed statement of facts in Thistle's case were read at Supreme Court in St. John's Thursday

Coates, 27, was driving easton KenmountRoad Aug. 16, 2013 on his motorcycle, when Thistle pulledonto Kenmount Road from Polina Road, causing a T-bonecrash.

Coateslater died in hospital from blunt force trauma to the chest.

"It tears at my heart and soul everyday," Coates' mother,Linda, wrote in a victim impact statement. "I wonder if he knew he was going to die and if he was scared."

She added: "I will never get to do the mother-and-son dance at his wedding. My son is dead."

Thistle, 67, blew 140 and 130 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood during a breath test, after awitness and police officer at the scene smelled alcohol.

Thistle, who police said showed remorse for Coates' death, initially claimed Coates went through a red light. However, witnesses said the light was green.

Thistle admitted to drinking the night before the accident and drinking rum the morning of the 11:30 a.m. crash.

'Impaired driving is a choice not an accident'

The courtroom was packed with friends and family members of Coates, some of whom entered victim impact statements, each outlining how Coates' untimely death affected them.

Elizabeth Winsor, Coates' partner,told the court she couldn't go back to their apartment for months, and had to take so much time off work she lost her job.

"Getting married and having a family was ripped from me," Winsor said.

Terry Coates couldn't finish reading his victim impact statement about the death of his son and had his wife read it for him.

"The day he died I got a life sentence of pain and heartache," Coates said. "No more I love you or warm hugs. Impaired driving is a choice not an accident."

The Crown said Thistle should spend two years in jail. The defence is asking for an 18-month sentence.

Justice Carl Thompson will deliver his decision on April 8.