Christy Natsis, victim impact statements heard at sentencing hearing

The Pembroke, Ont., dentist who drank and drove, then crashed into and killed a 50-year-old father of three addressed court today for the first time since her legal proceedings began nearly three years ago.

• Read more about the sentencing on our live blog

Dr. Christy Natsis's sentencing hearing beganTuesdaywith a surprise admission that she bought two bottles of vodka while on bail in 2011, in violation of court-ordered conditions.

The Crown is seeking a six to eight-year prison sentence, while the defence is seeking three-and-a-half to four years in prison.

Her guilty plea was followed by submissions from her defence team, including 100 letters on Natsis's character, describing her as a generous person who was an active fundraiser in the community.

She was found guilty in May of impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death after a crash on March 31, 2011, that killed Bryan Casey.

On Tuesday, defence lawyer Vincent Clifford told the courtNatsis's problems with alcohol began in the years prior to the fatal crash. She had marital problems and used alcohol to deal with the stress and "numb the pain," Clifford said.

But she is, despite the crash and its tragic consequences, a "very good and decent person" whose actions in 2011 stand in "stark contrast" to her otherwise exemplary behaviour in life, Clifford told the hearing.