A decision on a sentence for Quinte West man Aysar Younes who was convicted on impaired and dangerous driving charges causing the deaths of 22-year-old Rebecca Beatty from Quinte West and 23-year-old Anastasia Collins from Belleville has been delayed.
On Monday, in Superior Court, Madame Justice Kristin Muszynski said she would set a date for the delivery of sentence on August 1.
On March 7, 2025, Justice Muszynski found Younes, now 26 years of age, guilty on all charges, those being two counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing death.
On Monday, the Crown suggested Younes receive seven to eight years in jail plus a 12-year diving prohibition while the defence proposed a four-year prison sentence plus a 10-year driving prohibition.
Crown Michael Lunski said the taking of two lives is a serious matter and that Younes’s blood alcohol levels were fairly high at the time of the crash. Lunski added that Younes was driving 40kmh over the speed limit when the collision occurred. He also pointed out that Younes should not receive a reduced jail sentence as he didn’t plead guilty to the charges quickly, instead forcing a full-fledged trial on the matter.
Defence attorney Craig Bottomley said his client deserved jail time but that the sentence should be in the lower part of the range due to the fact that until that day’s “tragic mistake” Younes had been an outstanding student, athlete, employee, and had been generous with family and friends. Younes does not have a criminal record.
Below are details from the decision hearing March 7.
Court heard evidence that a GMC Yukon driven by Younes was going west on Old Highway 2 near RCAF Road at 12:25 p.m. October 3, 2021 when
it suddenly crossed the centre line colliding head on with a Nissan Versa in the eastbound lane.
Both occupants of the small car, 22-year-old Rebecca Beatty of Quinte West and 23-year-old Anastasia Collins of Belleville, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Younes was taken to Kingston General Hospital for treatment by its trauma team for hip and hand injuries.
In earlier court sessions, witnesses to the crash described it as happening suddenly, “at the blink of an eye.” None of the witnesses noticed anything
unusual in the seconds leading up to it.
Data retrieved from the vehicles showed Younes’s Yukon was moving at either 98 or 99 kmh in a 60 kmh zone right up until the impact with the car. The data showed the brakes had not been applied but the steering had changed drastically.
The Nissan was shown to be going 71 or 70 kmh up to impact with the brakes being applied just one second before impact, with the steering wheel being yanked to the right, suggesting the driver tried to avoid the collision at the last second.
The collision caused debris to fly over a wide area and that stretch of highway was closed for an investigation for hours.
Court heard that Younes had joined a group of around 12 friends for a cottage party north of Kingston on the afternoon of October 2 and that
all participants drank through the evening and into the early morning hours of October 3. One witness said no one at any time appeared extraordinarily intoxicated. Younes was up until 4:30 a.m. and admitted to consuming cocaine at some point during the gathering. Younes departed the cottage before 9 a.m.
Court heard victim impact statements from the Beatty family, father Mark, mother Connie, and Rebecca’s older sister Victoria.
All three fought back tears throughout their statements.
Impact statements were presented in written form by the Collins family for the judge’s consideration.
Mark Beatty said he was devastated when police knocked on their door later on October 3, 2021. “It was the worst day of my life. I ended up laying on the floor hanging on to the officers begging them to tell me that what they were saying wasn’t true.”
Beatty said, “I’ve been suffering from anxiety and depression for four years now. I feel empty inside and I still wake up every day hoping it was all a bad dream. I hate weddings now because I’ll never be able to lead Rebecca down the aisle. When I go to a funeral all I see is Rebecca laying in the casket. The offender (Younes) can move on with his life after his sentence. Our family has been handed a lifetime sentence.”
Mother Connie said Younes had committed a senseless crime. “I didn’t get to say goodbye to Rebecca that morning. She was just going out to lunch with a friend (Anastasia Collins). She never came back and when the OPP came to the door with the news it hit me like a meteor. We have a close-knit family, we ran together, snorkelled together, travelled together, and baked and cooked together. Now we are a broken family. I have kept her belongings as they were and I will do my best to keep Rebecca’s memory alive. Regardless of the sentence our family is serving a lifetime sentence.”
Sister Victoria spoke as though speaking to Rebecca to begin her statement. “Even though you drove me crazy sometimes I loved you.” She said the family had lost a part of itself. Rebecca had gone out to lunch with Anastasia to make plans for Anastasia’s upcoming wedding. Next thing I know mom is screaming at the OPP pleading with them to be wrong with their statement at our door. I lost my best friend for life, we won’t make memories together during life’s milestones. I suffer from insomnia and am having trouble finding joy in my life. I think of Rebecca first thing every day when I wake up.”
Each of the Beattys mentioned the pain caused by an over three-year-long court process, which featured a preliminary hearing and a trial.
Connie Beatty told Quinte News that the tragedy of the day’s events were replayed in court time and time again.
Speaking at the end of the day, Aysar Younes stood in the witness box and addressed the families.
“I have no words to describe how deeply sorry I am. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Anastasia and Rebecca. Believe me if I could I would trade places with them. I can’t sleep and get up every day thinking of them and you (families). I am truly, profoundly sorry and I take full responsibility for my actions. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you, the hole I’ve left in your hearts. I will work to make sure it never happens again.”
