The closure Ronia Mansourian's family has been waiting for ever since the teenager was killed crossing a Chomedey street while on her lunch break from school last September did not come at Tuesday's sentencing hearing for Robert Bélanger.

But the delay is likely a source of hope, rather than frustration, for the still grieving family.

Bélanger, 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ronia, who died September 4 after being struck a day earlier.

The maximum sentence is 14 years simply for hitting Ronia, and the fact he didn't stop ups that maximum to life in prison.

However, the prosecution requested only five years at Tuesday's sentencing, raising the ire of Ronia's furious family members.

"Bélanger is an immature, irresponsible, dangerous, selfish driver who put a lot of innocent citizens' lives in danger," said Ronia's sister Goldie Mansourian.

The defence countered the prosecution's sentencing recommendation with one that was even more lenient – three years in prison with two years of probation.

Ultimately, Judge Gilles Garneau told the court that he didn't consider either recommendation to be sufficient, and hinted he may very well impose a stiffer one on his own.

"Somebody died, (Bélanger) is excessively dangerous," he told the court. "I'm not convinced that the suggested sentences are appropriate in his case."

Bélanger drove all his life with nothing more than a learner's permit. Over the years, he collected numerous fines for driving-related infractions, and rarely paid them.

A week before hitting Ronia, a probation agent warned him about driving with a suspended license.

"It almost makes me want to become a criminal to know there are no (consequences), and the (consequences) that do exist are so small," said Ronia's aunt, Anoush Mansourian.

Prosecutor Jean-Pascal Boucher says his sentencing recommendation is based on existing case law, and that Bélanger's case cannot be compared to that of a drunk driver who is a repeat offender. He says Judge Garneau will have to follow some strict guidelines.

"He will have to weigh all the factors in the file and will use the jurisprudence we give to him," Boucher said.

Bélanger took the stand to apologize and claim he was a changed man, but neither the judge nor Ronia's family appeared to be swayed.

Judge Garneau will hand down his sentence for Bélanger next Tuesday, August 2.