Not-guilty plea entered in drunk driving fatality
Accused wants judge to lift conditions of house arrest
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 | 12:11 PM MT
CBC News
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A Calgary man accused of killing a woman and injuring her son in a drunken hit and run has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Darren Coupal, 36, faces numerous charges in the death of Linda Davey, 39, including one count each of impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.
The broken bumper of an SUV involved in a hit and run can be seen under a tarp on May 1. (Rick Donkers/CBC) Davey, her 15-year-old son, Josh, who uses a wheelchair, and a 30-year-old female friend were walking along Bridleridge Way in southwest Calgary on April 30 when an SUV jumped a grass median and plowed into the group before speeding away.
Davey died at the scene. Her son and the family friend were seriously injured.
On Wednesday, Coupal's lawyer entered a not-guilty plea for the 11 charges against his client. Coupal originally faced 12 counts, but a charge of driving without insurance was dropped while a charge of driving with a suspended licence was advanced to driving while disqualified.
Coupal is currently under 24-hour house arrest and allowed to leave home only for work, grocery shopping and emergencies. He was also granted an exception for his daughters' soccer games and his son's graduation in May.
He is not allowed to operate a motor vehicle or drink or buy alcohol.
The case will be back in court Friday, when Crown prosecutor Paul Mason will seek to revoke Coupal's bail while his defence lawyer will ask a judge to lift the house arrest but not the driving ban.
"We've filed an application to have that situation reviewed given the trial date is more than a year away," Coupal's lawyer Steve Wojick said on Wednesday.
Coupal's trial has been set for July 20, 2009, and is expected to last 10 days.
The remaining charges against Coupal are:
- Two counts of failure to stop at the scene of an accident where a person is injured.
- Two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
- Two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
- Refusal to provide a breath sample.
- Driving an uninsured vehicle.
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