Repeat drunk driver pleads guilty to drunk driving causing death of wheelchair bound mother

A guilty plea today from a St. Lazare man accused in the October hit-and-run drunk driving death of a wheelchair bound woman in Les Cèdres off the western tip of the island.

Roger Walsh's guilty plea means avoiding what could have been a drawn out and painful trial for the family of Anee Khudaverdian.

"I don't even want to hear his voice, I don't even want to hear what he has to say, " says Clara Khudaverdian, the sister of the victim. She says the famiy is both thrilled and relieved to know Walsh has admitted to killing her sister while driving drunk October 23 and they won't have to go through a trial.  Anee was in her wheelchair and out with her dog on the road when Walsh crashed into her. The vehicle the 56-year-old man was in was borrowed and he did not have a valid driver's licence.

Walsh has a lengthy criminal record, including two drunk-driving convictions and almost 20 arrests for impaired driving.  He also pleaded guilty to breach of conditions, for consuming alcohol when he wasn't supposed to.

Sentencing arguments are set for mid January.

"I personally would like to see a life sentence on the books because there isn't one. He took my sister's life, my niece is motherless."

Khudaverdian was killed on her 47th birthday.

Clara  Khudaverdian says this time of year was her sister's favourite.

"Just to know my sister is not going to be there this Christmas is really tough."