ian paul joly was sentenced to 16 months in a provincial jail last week for dangerous driving causing the death of christopher fox, who died after he was struck by joly’s van in a circle k parking lot on sept. 15, 2020.
superior court justice kerry mcvey called it a “very difficult and sad case” as she imposed the jail sentence on friday.
fox was 33 when joly struck and killed him with his van during a heated argument in the convenience store parking lot on baseline road nearly four years ago.
joly, 39, pleaded guilty earlier this year to dangerous driving causing fox’s death and admitted to striking fox with his van and running over his body.
he then filed an application to reverse his guilty plea, claiming the plea was “uninformed and involuntary,” and he asked the judge to instead proceed to a trial.
the judge denied his request, saying the pressure joly felt in pleading guilty was “not enough to cast doubt on the voluntariness of the plea.”
in her sentencing decision, mcvey noted joly has consistently denied knowing he struck and killed fox as he drove away that day.
“mr. joly is not before the court alleging he intentionally struck or intentionally harmed mr. fox. he has never been charged with murder, manslaughter or any kind of assault,” the judge said.