In a downtown courtroom Thursday, the mother of Roshayin Kesavin began sobbing and reaching for her 23-year-old son as he was handcuffed and led away to begin serving a five-year penitentiary sentence.

Kesavan, who had been out on bail with conditions including that he not drive, was convicted in April of impaired driving causing the death of his friend, 19-year-old Adhavan Shurenthiran.

Assistant Crown Attorney Rob Fried asked Superior Court Justice Nancy J. Spies to impose a five-year sentence, while defence lawyer Diran Tutunjuan suggested it was open to the court to impose a conditional sentence and probation.

Spies said that, despite all the mitigating factors, including that Kesavan is a youthful first-time offender, denunciation and deterrence must be prioritized, given the devas

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