John Koch gets 4 year sentence in drunk-driving death of 25-year-old woman

A Saskatoon man who pleaded guilty to killing a 25-year-old Kenaston woman while driving drunk is going to prison for four years.

JohnKoch, 49, pleaded guilty to impaired drivingcausing death in the Oct.10, 2014 crash that killedDanille Kerpan. He had been driving drunknorth on Highway 11 in the southbound lane. His speeds were estimated at more than 120 kilometres per hour.

I wish it was me instead of her.- John Koch

His sentencing hearing was Tuesday morning in Saskatoon provincial court. Friends and family of Kerpan spilled intothe court hallway.

The Crown and defence submitted a joint sentencing submission of four years. Koch will also be prohibited from driving for a total of 11 years:four years in prison and seven years after his release.

Court heard victim impact statements fromKerpan's fiance, parents, siblings, extended family and wide circle of friends and co-workers.

Koch made a statement to Kerpan's family before the sentence was read.He said he was deeply sorry.

"I wish it was me instead of her," Koch said.

Kerpan's father, Allan,is a former Reform Party MP and Saskatchewan Party MLA, and has become an advocate for strengthening laws that target drunk drivers.

"When this journey sort of startedthe legal journeyI guess all of us in our family had hoped we would be able to see the courts see fit to raise the bar on this issue so that our daughter, our sister, our friend, our girlfriend, would not just be another statistic in the long line of drunk driving statistics in Saskatchewan," Allan said outside of the courthouse after the sentencing.

Allen said he felt the court had raised the bar with a longer sentence behind bars as well as driving ban, but he would like to see more.

"We can no longer accept drinking and driving here in Saskatchewan," he said.

With the long, hard court journey nearing its end, Allan said it is bitter sweet.

"I am sad because all of those little steps,that everytime one of them happens, it's a signal that Danille is gone, and it's too real, it's all too real for me," he said.

Kerpan's familyadded that they are working with officials on a provincial memorial to honour all of those killed by drunk drivers in the province.

CBC reporterswere tweeting live from the courthouse. Readtheirtweets below.

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