Executive Summary
- James Bennett Andrew, a retired RCMP officer, pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death.
- The fatal crash occurred on Jan. 1, 2025, killing Andrew’s partner, Mary Shawna Carmody.
- Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 26 at the P.E.I. Supreme Court.
- Andrew remains out of custody pending the final sentencing hearing.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for James Bennett Andrew, a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer, following his guilty plea to charges of impaired driving causing death in Prince Edward Island. The 74-year-old resident of Stanley Bridge did not appear in the P.E.I. Supreme Court for the scheduling session, where his defense counsel represented him.
According to court filings, Andrew entered a guilty plea on December 9 regarding a single-vehicle collision that occurred on New Year’s Day, 2025. The crash claimed the life of his common-law partner, Mary Shawna Carmody. Defense lawyer Brandon Hubley and Crown attorney Chee Ng confirmed to the court that the sentencing hearing is set for February 26 at 9:30 a.m.
The East Prince RCMP reported that officers responded to the fatal crash on Route 6 in Clinton at approximately 4:35 p.m. on January 1. Investigators established that Andrew was driving a red Kia SUV when the vehicle left the roadway, entered a ditch, and struck a culvert. Police arrested Andrew at the scene, and subsequent evidence confirmed his blood-alcohol concentration exceeded the legal limit at the time of the collision.
Andrew is currently not held in custody while the matter remains before the court. It is important to note that while a guilty plea has been entered, the judicial process requires a formal sentencing hearing to finalize the legal outcome and penalties associated with the case.
Procedural Next Steps
The upcoming sentencing hearing represents the final phase of adjudication in this case involving a former law enforcement officer. During this session, the court will likely review pre-sentence reports and victim impact statements to determine the appropriate penalty under the specific sentencing guidelines for impaired driving causing death. This phase is critical for establishing legal accountability and finalizing the judicial response to the fatality.
