Debbie Virgoe knows she’ll never have closure to her husband’s tragic death.
But the sentence handed to 20-year-old Nauman Nusrat, one of the street racers responsible for David Virgoe’s death, doesn’t make her feel like justice was served.
Nusrat was handed a sentence Tuesday of two years’ house arrest, a lifetime driving ban in Canada, a fine of $250 and was ordered to surrender his vehicle to the prosecution.
Nusrat pleaded guilty in April to speeding up Highway 400 and clipping the Innisfil truck driver on June 18, 2007. David swerved his rig off the highway to avoid harming other drivers that morning, taking his own life in the process.
Two other men involved in the crash are still waiting for their day in court.
“The unfortunate part of this now is that there’s no message (against street racing). David got no justice yesterday,” said Debbie Virgoe.
Since the street racing law came into effect, police have taken more than 5,000 cars off the road, she said. But even with that, she feels the government hasn’t stood up for the laws that are in place.
Debbie was “beside herself” after hearing Provincial court Justice Gregory Regis’ sentence. In this case, the Crown was asking for an additional two years’ jail time on top of the 11 months served, as well as the lifetime driving ban.
Debbie was also hurt when Regis told her in his closing speech that time heals all wounds. “He said that, then continued to give the guy a conditional sentence. It’s a joke.”
As far as what will happen to the other two men still awaiting the judge’s decision in this case, Debbie doesn’t feel they will be penalized at all.
“I don’t hold animosity to any of them, I don’t have any anger. But it’s not about forgiveness,” said Debbie Virgoe. “If David had survived, he would have forgiven them the next day.
“I want this to mean something more. This is the first case of (death from) street racing and the justice system has to get a backbone.”
Debbie knows that any sentence won’t bring her husband back, but she was hoping for a stiffer penalty to the accused. “It’s not about David anymore, it’s about making changes so this won’t happen to the next person.”
In the year since David was killed, Debbie has had a hard time gathering the pieces of her life together. She tried to return to work, but with so many court dates popping up in the case, her schedule was unpredictable.
She has also moved to Angus, to a home she and David had planned to buy before his death. After 27 years together, Debbie said she’s afraid of being alone and doesn’t know what the future holds.
June 18 marks the first anniversary of David’s death, and even though that date is just around the corner, Debbie only has small plans.
“Father’s Day (June 15) will be a sad day, a pretty quiet day here, along with the three days after that. I do plan to go down to the highway where (the crash) occurred, to his memorial, to contemplate where I’m supposed to go now.”
In the meantime, Debbie’s working with another widow, Eleanor McMahon, whose husband – an OPP officer – was killed by a dump truck while cycling off-duty. The pair wants to give Ministry of Transportation officials the right to check drivers to ensure they have valid insurance when renewing their licences.
Debbie will also keep fighting to get her message out about dangerous driving.
“It’s taken far too long for drinking and driving to be taken seriously. I won’t wait that long.
“Every time I see (old footage of) David’s truck on its side and a sheet on the ground, I know what that is. It’s like it was yesterday. I’m going to continue to get the message out there. The government put laws into place and we have to make (the justice system) work.”
