The woman serving three years for killing Kassandra Kaulius while driving drunk was denied early parole on Wednesday (Nov. 13).
Natasha Warren, now 36, struck and killed Kaulius, 22, as she drove home from a softball practice in May, 2011.
Warren, who had consumed more than a bottle of wine before getting behind the wheel of her van, was driving an estimated 103 km/h when she collided with Kaulius at 64 Avenue and 152 Street.
Kaulius was killed on impact.
The parole board asked Warren some pointed questions at her hearing Wednesday, such as why she got behind the wheel, why she called her boyfriend before 911, and why she ran away rather than offer help.
At the end of the hearing, the board felt she still didn’t understand the full impact of her actions and denied her early parole.
Members of the Kaulius family, including her mother Markita, were at the parole hearing. Markita Kaulius said she was pleased Warren is being held accountable.
Kassandra’s father Victor told The Leader Thursday the family feels no vindictiveness towards Warren, but just wants to ensure the spirit of deterrence is followed.
“We were just really happy that the right thing was done yesterday,” he said.
He added it was difficult to listen to the details of the collision again, but said the Kauliuses are a tight-knit clan.
“When one of us is hurting, we’re all huting,” Victor said. “When one of us is happy, we’re all really happy.”
Warren said little after her application was officially denied, but the parole board said she can re-apply in one year.
Her statutory release date is set for January 2015.
~with files from CBC News
