A Markham man has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison after being found guilty of killing a mother and her daughter while driving drunk in a 2016 collision.

Christopher Singh, 30, who was found guilty March 29 of two counts of impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and over-80 causing death, was sentenced Monday in a Newmarket courtroom.

Justice Shannon McPherson also gave Singh an eight-year driving prohibition.

York Region police investigators responded to a two-vehicle collision involving a black Toyota Corolla and black Infiniti G35 at around 9:40 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2016 on 16th Ave., near Bur Oak Ave.

Pradeep Guruge, husband of Inoka Athuraliya-Liyana-Waduge, 42, who was killed along with the couple’s daughter, Savani Guruge, 4, said the pair was returning from dropping him off at the GO Station on his way to work at a financial company in downtown Toronto

They died in hospital.

The court heard how Singh, who worked at Bell Canada, had been drinking before picking up his daughter from his partner’s home. When he arrived, his partner’s sister told the court she could not tell he was inebriated and gave the small child to Singh.

Singh’s vehicle crossed the centre line before the crash and police collision experts said there was no evidence of an attempt to stop. Singh’s child, who was strapped into a child’s seat, survived.

Guruge gave an extensive interview to YorkRegion.com following the death of his wife and child. He said at the time he still had his 12-year-old daughter, who did not go along for the car ride, at home with him.

About his wife he said: “She was very pleasant and helpful. She was actually like a second mother to me. She looked after everything, every aspect; she looked after me like a kid. She was very caring and loved to do every small detail to make sure we were all safe and happy.”

About Savani, he said: “She was very playful and everyone loved her. She loved making friends and she loved being outside, going to the park and the temple; she never wanted to be inside the house.”

A devout Buddhist, Guruge, who did not want to speak to the media when Singh was found guilty, took a philosophical view of the incident days after it occurred.

“People don’t do these things intentionally, so there’s no reason for us to be aggressive or hold hate for him,” he said at the time. “In my mind I recall the memories (of my wife and daughter) and that makes me feel sad, but at the same time I try to repeatedly remind myself that everything is uncertain and we know that through experience.”

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JC John Cudmore is a breaking news and sports reporter for YorkRegion.com and its sister papers. Reach him via email: jcudmore@yrmg.com

JG Jeremy Grimaldi is a crime and justice reporter for YorkRegion.com and its sister papers. Reach him via email: jgrimaldi@yrmg.com

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