'Alcohol is my biggest demon': Man sent to prison for killing girlfriend in car crash

The day she died in the front seat of her boyfriend's Pontiac G5, Tamara Torn was starting over after ending a long relationship.

But this time, she had chosen a man who "loved only booze," provincial court Judge Sean Dunnigansaid Tuesday before sentencing the driverto two years in prison.

Originally facing an impaired driving charge, Robert McGechie, 36, pleaded guilty earlier this year to dangerous driving causing death for the Nov. 1, 2015fatal crash that killed Torn.

"This court doesn't care if you drink yourself to death. This court cares whether you hurt other people," said Dunnigan.

The judge accepted Crown prosecutor Josh Chan and defence lawyer AlainHepner'sjoint proposal for a two-year sentence plus a five-year driving prohibition.

"There's only one person that can fix alcoholism and that's you, but you have to want to do it," saidDunnigan. "Now you have two years to think about it."

'Alcohol is my biggest demon'

After his car rolled twice, landing on its roof, both McGechie and an off-duty firefighter tried to help Torn, but she died inside the car.

"I am deeply sorry for what I did," said McGechie. "Alcohol is my biggest demon in life I know I deserve this punishment."

Torn had recently ended a years-long relationship and was dating McGechie, whom she'd been with more than 15 years earlier. She told McGechie he was the father of her teenage daughter, Sonia Torn.

"Robert John McGechie is my father and he did a stupid thing, but he will be living with the pain for the rest of his life,"Sonia Torn wrote in her victim impact statement.

"He will never see the love of his life ever again," she said. "I'm not mad at him, I'm just disappointed in him for driving too fast."

Sonia says she is honouring her mother's wish and will finish high school this year.

'Do not let her ending be in vain'

Torn had just spent nine straight days with her new boyfriend and her best friend was wary. Terra-Lee Beckett said she knew Torn's relationship with McGechie was "going to end badly."

McGechie has a history of domestic violence, and many of his prior convictions involved alcohol.

"She was often let down and taken advantage of by people claiming to love her," said Beckett before addressing McGechie directly.

"You didn't do this on purpose but I truly believe the responsibility is yours ... please do not let her ending be in vain. Please."

Torn's mother Peggy Chernoff described being overwhelmed by the feeling of anguish

"Sometimes I just hold her picture to my poor, breaking heart," said Chernoff. "I love and miss you, my beautiful Tamara."