Senator's wife cleared of endangering safety of plane
Maygan Sensenberger, 23, returned to Saskatoon court today
The Canadian Press
Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:22 AM CT
Last Updated: Aug 28, 2012 4:26 PM CT
Maygan Sensenberger, 23, leaves court in Saskatoon on Tuesday after making a brief appearance in domestic violence court. (CBC)
A senator's wife charged with creating a disturbance on a plane had the most serious charge against her dropped Tuesday, but she was forced to spend another night away from her husband.
Maygan Sensenberger made a brief appearance in a Saskatoon court Tuesday morning. The 23-year-old's husband, Senator Rod Zimmer, 69, a Liberal from Manitoba, sat quietly in the back row.
The case was adjourned to Tuesday afternoon and then to Wednesday afternoon. The defence and Crown wanted time to review disclosure and hold discussions.
The Crown withdrew the most serious charge against Sensenberger of endangering the safety of an aircraft. That charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison under the Criminal Code.
"The two charges now are causing a disturbance and uttering threats and those are the only two charges. The Crown proceeded summarily," defence lawyer Leslie Sullivan said outside the courthouse.
When asked whether it is her client's hope that the case can be dealt with Wednesday, Sullivan said: "I'm not going to discuss that."
Conditions remained in place that Sensenberger have no contact with Zimmer.
Saskatoon police arrested Sensenberger last week after she allegedly caused a ruckus on a flight from Ottawa.
Police alleged she yelled about bringing down the plane and threatened Zimmer.
Was worried about husband's health: witness
But a witness says Sensenberger was simply worried about her husband's health and wanted him to get help for breathing problems he was having during the flight.
The witness, Scott Wright, said the crew gave Zimmer oxygen and he started feeling better, but his wife was still upset and they fought over his condition.
Manitoba Liberal Senator Rod Zimmer leaves court on Tuesday. His wife, Maygan Sensenberger, has been charged in connection with an incident on an Air Canada flight last week. (CBC)Saskatoon police have said the alleged threats were made before any concerns were expressed about Zimmer's health.
Police and ambulance staff met the plane when it landed. Wright said Zimmer walked off the aircraft by himself.
Sensenberger's family has said it was not unusual for the young woman to be worried about her partner's health. Zimmer has battled cancer in the past.
Police reported that no one was injured and the safety of the aircraft was not compromised.
Sensenberger first appeared in court last Friday and was held in custody over the weekend.
On Monday, their first-year wedding anniversary, according to their Facebook page, the judge released her on several conditions, including that she have no contact with her husband. She was also banned from drinking alcohol and being in licensed establishments.
The two arrived separately at the courthouse Tuesday and did not speak to reporters.
Share Tools
Latest Manitoba News Headlines
- Lick It List resurrected for second dying dog
- An 11-year-old boy from Shilo, Man., is embarking on his second tribute to a dying dog in one year. more »
- Toddler hurt in van crash getting better in hospital
- A three-year-old girl initially listed in critical condition after a van crashed into a building in Winnipeg is improving in hospital. more »
- Taylor Swift concert plan targets stadium traffic woes
- Plans are being made to improve traffic flow to the new stadium this weekend in time for the Taylor Swift concert. more »
- More seniors dying in bedrail accidents, reports show
- More seniors have died in Manitoba after becoming trapped in their bed rails, despite years of warnings from U.S. and Canadian health authorities. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- 30,000 Canadians are homeless every night
- A new national report into homelessness in this country tells a grim story — at least 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness in any given year and least 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given night. more »
- Obesity called a disease by U.S. doctors group
- In order to fight what it described as an "obesity epidemic," the American Medical Association voted to recognize obesity as a disease and recommended a number of measures to fight it. more »
- Neil Macdonald: Washington's obsession with leakers
- Julian Assange and Edward Snowden are just the most prominent targets in an all-out legal and propaganda campaign that America's security apparatus is mounting against leakers everywhere, Neil Macdonald writes. more »
- How open is Ottawa's new 'open data' website?
- Treasury Board President Tony Clement is touting the federal government's revamped data portal as a "new natural resource." But that online window for previously published data arrives at the same time the government faces controversy over just how open it really is. more »
- Has the lost bell of Batoche been found in Manitoba?
- Girl, 3, critical after car hits building in West End
- Thousands of caterpillars descend on Lake Manitoba
- Lick It List resurrected for second dying dog
- Manitoba math classes going back to the basics
- Tory MP bows to Elections Canada in fight over expenses
- More seniors dying in bedrail accidents, reports show
- Judge rules on brothers’ testimony in archbishop sex trial
- Dustin Paxton's outstanding assault charges stayed


A New Home for the Bombers