The grieving parents of the four-year-old girl killed by Carol Berner's speeding car say they're surprised but relieved that Berner has been convicted on all charges of dangerous and impaired driving.

Judge Peder Gulbransen ruled Tuesday that Berner was guilty of two counts each of dangerous and impaired driving in the May 17, 2008, crash that killed little Alexa Middelaer.

"What happened in that court room wasn't something that we expected, candidly," Alexa's father Michael Middelaer told reporters outside Surrey provincial court.

"I think it was a great day for British Columbia…. I think that what happened to our family will probably happen a little less often."

Mother Laurel Middelaer said that Alexa's life had been "honoured" by the judge's decision.

"To hear a judge view the big picture of all the evidence was really reassuring to all of us."

A ‘horrible, terrible noise'

Alexa was killed while standing at the side of a quiet Delta road with her aunt, Daphne Middelaer.

Daphne was also struck by Berner's car and subsequently had to undergo 13 hours of surgery -- her shoulder, arm, ribs, pelvis and leg were all fractured by the impact.

Daphne testified that just before the crash, she heard a "horrible, terrible noise," turned around, and saw a car speeding sideways down the road, kicking up dirt.

In a videotaped conversation with an undercover police officer used as evidence during the trial, Berner said that she had "at least three fair-sized" glasses of wine before the collision.

She also said that she lost control of the car and had an anxiety attack moments before the impact.

The court heard that Berner ignored road signs and two speed bumps signalling a change in speed limit from 60 to 50 kilometres per hour. Experts estimated that she was travelling at 91 kilometres per hour just five seconds before the crash.

"Travelling at this speed was not a minor lapse in attention," Gulbransen wrote in his decision.

"The manner in which the accused drove her vehicle constituted a marked departure from the standard of care to be expected of a driver in the accused's situation."

The judge dismissed the defence's argument that Berner's car had malfunctioned in some way during the crash.

"To suggest that there may have been a sudden mechanical breakdown in this case is pure conjecture," he wrote.

The defence had also argued that Berner was not impaired by the alcohol she drank before the crash -- police officers and ambulance attendants at the scene of the crash said that they didn't notice any signs of inebriation.

But Gulbransen ruled that Berner's problems perceiving the speed of the car, and well as her difficulty navigating a road she had driven many times before, pointed to intoxication.

"There is no other rational conclusion that can be drawn from the evidence," he wrote.

Berner may appeal

Defence lawyer David Tarnow told reporters that he was disappointed by the judge's decision.

"Ms. Berner is quite upset by the outcome," he said.

He added that he will be asking for non-custodial sentence at the sentencing hearing, scheduled for November 8.

Tarnow said that the defence team will make a decision on whether to file an appeal after the judge sentences Berner.

Tougher laws on the way

Beginning this fall, B.C. will introduce the so-called "Alexa's law," which includes the most severe penalties for drinking and driving in the country.

Drivers who blow over .08 blood alcohol level on Breathalyzer tests or refuse to give a sample will get an immediate 90-day driving suspension, a $500 fine and face possible criminal charges.

Drivers who blow between .05 and .08 will be banned from driving for three days and will have to pay a $200 fine.

Watch CTV News at Six for reports from Michele Brunoro and Leah Hendry