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The lawyer for the family of the little girls said they were “shocked and disappointed” that Burger has filed an appeal.

“They said they’d come to a place of forgiveness,” said London lawyer Maia Bent. “And they can’t help but question the truth of Ms. Burger’s expressions of remorse.”

Burger, a retired university administrator at Western University’s education faculty, pleaded not guilty at her trial to two counts of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

She testified that her foot became stuck under the pedals while backing out of a parking space. When she tried to wiggle it free, she kept pressing the gas pedal and accelerating.

Over five seconds, the car travelled backwards 57.8 metres — about the length of half a football field — past 18 parking spots, over a crosswalk and between two barrier posts before crashing into the store at a speed of almost 50 km/h.

The gear shift was still in reverse when the car was finally stopped by the front doors.

Justice Jonathon George rejected Burger’s explanation and convicted her of all four counts of lesser charges — two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

The notice of appeal filed in Toronto on Nov. 13 by the Toronto law firm Presser Barristers lists three grounds:

• the judge erred in rejecting Burger’s evidence “on the basis of speculative conclusions made in the absence of evidence.” • the judge focused on the consequences rather than the driving “when assessing dangerousness.” • the judge erred by convicting Burger of dangerous driving “in the absence of requisite fault requirement.”

The lawyers left open the possibility of any other grounds they may advise the court.

Last month, at a highly emotional sentencing hearing when the families of the girls told the court of their deep loss and grief, Burger was given a suspended sentence with three years probation and a five-year driving prohibition.

During the hearing, Burger offered a tearful apology saying, “Sorry is such an inadequate word, but I don’t know what else to do.”

The deaths and injuries to the young family under such unusual circumstances prompted an outpouring of grief and support across London.