Montreal man awaiting sentence in fatal drunk driving case arrested again

A Montreal man awaiting sentencing for a deadly drunk driving crash has been arrested again.

A man awaiting sentencing for a fatal drunk driving crash, with dozens of driving violations on his record, has been arrested again — raising new questions about what it will take to keep him off the roads.

Pedestrian Fabienne Houde-Bastien was killed in May 2023 as she crossed Jean-Talon Street near Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal’s Little Italy neighbourhood.

The driver, Vi Trung Ngo, pleaded guilty to drunk driving causing death. He has been free on bail since the accident, while awaiting a sentence set for next month.

But Ngo was arrested again and this time he has been charged with breaking bail conditions and driving without a licence.

In court Friday, Ngo argued that he was not the driver, but another man who looked like him. The prosecutor said the alibi made no sense and urged the judge to find Ngo guilty.

However, Ngo’s lawyer, Kevin Hill, said he thinks there is reasonable doubt.

“Well, of course, this is what we pleaded the court and it’s up to the judge at this point to decide, if you believe it or not,” Hill said.

The victim’s family came to court because they can’t believe he’s accused of re-offending.

Ngo has more than 40 traffic tickets in recent years, including five for driving with a suspended licence.

The prosecution is seeking a lengthy federal sentence for the drunk driving conviction and hopes an additional conviction for breach of bail will convince the judge to impose a tougher sentence.

“It’s obvious that if he’s found guilty on the new charge, we’ll bring it up at sentencing for his case involving the death of Fabienne Houde-Bastien,” said prosecutor Anik Archambault.

The victim’s family says nothing short of a lengthy prison term will protect society.

Ngo’s sentence is expected to be handed down later this fall.