Preliminary hearing wraps up into teen's death on Nova Scotia highway

It was an emotional day in Sydney provincial court Thursday as apreliminary hearingfor Hayden Laffin, the driver of the car that fatally struck Joneil Hanna last June, wrapped up.

Hanna, 17,died after being hit onHighway 223following a grad party at Leitches Creek.

Laffin, 21, is charged with wilfully obstructing justice in the case.

Members of both families cried during Thursday'sproceedings.Evidence presented at a preliminary hearing is banned from publication.

Jennifer Hanna, mother of the victim, said she wants justice for her son.She has complained about a decision by police officers at the scenenot to demand a sobriety test from Laffin following the crash.

Cape Breton Regional Police were called to the house party on June 10, 2018 over concerns there were a large number of people drinking and there was a potential for fights and impaired driving.

But police saidat the time of the incidentthey didn't believe they had grounds to demand a sobriety test from Laffin.

"You know, we'll never get him [Joneil] back," Jennifer Hanna told reporters Thursday. "But I just want someone to be held accountable because he didn't deserve it."

In the courtroom, Hanna's family wore sweaters bearing the words"Justice for Joneil."

Police have publicly offered few details about the charge against Laffin, saying only that it stems from circumstances following the collision.

Justice David Ryan will deliver his ruling June 12 onwhether the matter will proceed to trial.

"The judge taking his time to review everything is kind of nerve-racking," said Jennifer Hanna. "But I just hope for the best."