A local man who rolled his car while under the influence was given a break by the courts Friday, but will pay his penance early next year.
Court heard Donald Joanisse, 49, decided to pass a car on a short stretch of road in Azilda last Oct. 19. He ran out of room, was forced to take evasive action and ended up rolling his vehicle twice. Police were on the scene within minutes and found Joanisse still strapped inside his vehicle and a bottle of brandy at his feet.
Two breathalyser tests were taken and indicated he had more than double the amount of alcohol in his blood allowed to operate a motor vehicle in Canada.
Defence attorney Ted Conroy asked Justice Guy Mahaffy to put off convicting and sentencing Joanisse until early next year because he?s suffering from certain medical problems, unrelated to the accident, and he only has a few months of work left to be eligible to collect a full pension.
Assistant Crown attorney Kara Vakiparta did not oppose Conroy?s request.
Mahaffy agreed saying this accused has no previous criminal record.
?Forty-nine plus years of otherwise pristine behaviour in the community should count for something,? he said.
Joanisse will be able to keep his driver?s license to continue going to work until he?s sentenced Feb. 2, 2005.
