Drugged-driving suspect now has counsel
Shawna Eveleen Decoste, 33, of Springfield, N.S., to enter plea next month on charge of being high at the wheel and seriously injuring man in Penniac in September 2022
A Nova Scotia woman accused of seriously injuring someone while driving under the influence of a drug in 2022 now has defence counsel but not disclosure of her file.
Shawna Eveleen Decoste, 33, Upper Springfield Road in Springfield, N.S., is accused of driving while impaired by a drug and thereby causing bodily harm to Carter Bailey.
The RCMP charge alleges an offence in Penniac on Sept. 20, 2022.
She previously appeared on the charge last fall, seeking time to retain counsel.
Her case was back on the Fredericton provincial court docket Monday. Decoste wasn’t present, but legal aid defence lawyer Edward Derrah, appeared on her behalf, noting he’d been assigned to the file.
He requested an adjournment Monday, noting his client wasn’t ready to enter a plea yet.
“I have no disclosure on this charge,” he said.
Judge Lucie Mathurin set the matter over to Feb. 5 for plea.
In November, Decoste complained about the matter taking so long to get before a court.
She pointed out it had been more than a year since the alleged incident and that she had never been arrested for it.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
Don, is there a reason that you know of why the crown is having such a hard time with making disclosure available.. Just curious