Family members sobbed and cried in court today at the sentencing hearing for the man accused of taking the life of a 14-year-old girl.
Montana Netmaker was riding her bike through Prince Albert on April 11th of last year when she was killed in a hit and run.
Forty-five-year-old Leslie Samoleski fled the scene and then engaged police in a 10-hour standoff.
He initially was charged with impaired driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, failing to remain at the scene of an accident and four weapons charges.
However, many of those charges were later dropped.
Samoleski ended up pleading guilty to failing to remain at the scene of an accident, breaching his probation and weapons charges.
Family members faced him in court this morning, and took turns describing their heartbreak over the incident and how their family was forever changed.
The girl’s aunt, Jocelyn Schraeder, pleaded with the judge not to let Samoleski off with a light sentence and asked the court to make him accountable for what he had done.
For his part, Samoleski apologized to the family — saying it’s something he will live with the rest of his life.
The judge has reserved his decision until next Monday.