A Belleville man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and flight from police charges after a head-on collision in Greater Napanee that killed an 88-year-old woman in 2018.
Andrew Michael Slapkauskas, also known as Mike, pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday (Monday).
The collision occurred on March 6 of of 2018. Slapkauskas was 42 at the time of the crash which killed Florence Wyatt-Morris of Napanee.
The accused has had a drug abuse problem for many years, had been involved with police previously, and had a significant amount of methamphetamine and a lesser amount of amphetamine in his system at the time of the collision.
OPP officers, in numbers, had pursued Slapkauskas as he drove an SUV wildly on County Road 2 in Napanee, causing other vehicles to swerve to avoid him and children and adults to leap out of his vehicle’s path in some parts of the community.
The chase ended with a head-on collision with Wyatt-Morris’s car on County Road 2 near Switzerville Road. Crown Attorney Monica Heine said the evidence from police suggested Slapkauskas was “tracking” Wyatt-Morris’s car and aimed his vehicle at hers without slowing down or applying the brakes.
“The people in Napanee are lucky that only one life was lost on that day,” said Heine.
Slapkauskas’ defence lawyer maintained the collision was not intentional as his client was under the influence of drugs, and testimony from a doctor suggested he was suffering from a “psychotic episode”.
The Crown is asking that Slapkauskas be sentenced to 15 years in jail, less 3.6 years credit for pre-sentence custody.
The defence is asking for a seven year sentence, less credit for four years and three months of pre-sentence custody.
Superior Court Justice Brian Abrams has reserved a sentence until the morning of Friday, January 15 in Napanee court.
During proceedings yesterday court heard from several members of Wyatt-Morris’s family as they gave at times very emotional victim impact statements.
She was described as the “glue that held our family together”. Wyatt-Morris was well known in the community for her work with the church and with many volunteer organizations. She was said to have a passion for gardening and for line dancing, displaying an energy level not common in people of her age.
At the end of proceedings today (Tuesday), Slapkauskas issued a brief statement saying he never started that fateful day meaning to harm anyone. He said his actions were those of a man under the influence of dangerous drugs and that he deeply regretted the pain caused to the Wyatt-Morris family. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I will keep you in my prayers. I’m sure she (Wyatt-Morris) is in heaven.”
He ended by saying he was dealing with his substance abuse problems during his time in custody.
The scene of a March 6, 2018 crash in Napanee that claimed the life of 88 year-old Florence Wyatt-Morris. Michael Slapkauskas pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and flight from police, in relation to the crash, on January 5, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy / Dickie Buckshot)
The scene of a March 6, 2018 crash in Napanee that claimed the life of 88 year-old Florence Wyatt-Morris. Michael Slapkauskas pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and flight from police, in relation to the crash, on January 5, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy / Dickie Buckshot)
The scene of a March 6, 2018 crash in Napanee that claimed the life of 88 year-old Florence Wyatt-Morris. Michael Slapkauskas pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and flight from police, in relation to the crash, on January 5, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy / Dickie Buckshot)
