The Provincial Court trial for a man charged with impaired driving more than two years ago was delayed yet again on Friday, Jan. 3.
Timothy Lee Ramey, 51, also faces charges of operation of a vehicle while over 0.8 per cent blood alcohol content and dangerous operation of a vehicle in connection to an Aug. 20, 2022 incident in Prince George.
A colleague of Ramey’s lawyer attended by video conference to ask Judge Martin Nadon for the latest adjournment because he was ill and unable to travel to Prince George. Dale Melville said that Jerry Steele had “the Norwalk virus or something that has similar symptoms.”
Crown prosecutor Kurtas Welch did not oppose the adjournment, but said this was the fourth trial delay in a case that began 794 days ago.
Welch told the court that Steele had applied to adjourn the original Aug. 11, 2023 trial because he had become aware of a scheduling conflict. On Feb. 20, 2024, Steele received another adjournment because of a short-notice disclosure request. The Sept. 9, 2024 trial date was also delayed because of outstanding evidence disclosure.
Welch said Steele advised him at 8:10 p.m. the previous night that he was unable to attend.
“I have concerns about the date but I understand that Mr. Ramey shouldn't be prejudiced by not having his counsel here,” Welch said. “And, obviously, if Mr. Steele is ill, he shouldn't be in the courtroom either.”
Nadon said the defence is responsible for the delay and set Jan. 6 for another hearing to fix a new trial date.
