General

Michael Bryant is home free

Prosecution says there was no chance of convicting Ontario’s former AG

Prosecutors withdrew all charges against Michael Bryant Tuesday morning. The former Ontario attorney general had been set to go on trial for criminal negligence and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle for his role in a collision that killed Toronto bike courier Darcy Allan Sheppard last August. But Crown prosecutors now say there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. After an altercation one evening on Bloor Street West, Sheppard—who was on his bicycle—leaned into Bryant’s car, gripping it near the steering wheel. As Bryant sped away in fear, Shepphard was thrown against a tree and mailbox, and later died as a result of his injuries. Sheppard’s blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit at the time of the accident and evidence suggests he had a history of violent outbursts on his bike. If Bryant had been convicted, he could have received a maximum sentence of life in jail.

CBC News

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