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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 1999-06-23, Page 5• News THE HURON EXPOSITOR, June 23, 1999-5 Lebeau decision set for October By Amy Zo.thout Goderich Signal-Stor. staff A final decision in the Sarah LeBcau trial will not he reached until October, court was told last Wednesday. Justice Tom Granger adjourned the trial following the.completion of closing arguments Wednesday until Oct. 8 when he will make his ruling on the area woman's trial which began last September. LeBeau faces II charges resulting from the fatal crash that•killed four area youths. The 22 -year-old Brucetield woman has been charged with four counts of impaired driving causing death, .four counts of criminal negligence causing death, one count of impaired driving causing bodily harm, one -count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and one count of driving over the legal limit. The crash occurred in the early morning hours. of Nov. 24,- 1996, when LeBeau's 1995 Camaro left Huron County Road 31 north, of Varna, crashed into an embankment and rolled onto its roof before coming to rest on its wheels near the. Bayfield River. Killed in the crash were Neal Atchison and Pamela King of Clinton and Brian Hill and Mark Webster of Stanley Township. Both LeBeau and Brandon Gardner, of Vanastra,• were seriously injured in the crash. • Crown attorney Bob Morris presented his closing arguments Wednesday morning. Morris said evidence presented in court proves "beyond a reasonable doubt" that LeBeau was the driver when her car left the road that morning. •Witnesses testified they saw' LeBeau in the driver's scat when her car left a going. away party held at the home of Bev and Shirley Hill near Varna. Further witnesses testified LeBeau was found at the scene of the accident with her feet in the driver's footwell and her upper body outside of the driver's door. "...four witnesses describe Sarah .LeBeau's lower extremities either caught or trapped in the •driver's footwell area," said -Morris, adding that testimony was also given as to the difficulty emergency crews had extracting her from the footwell arca. The Crown contends the ' driver of the vehicle would have sustained severe lower extremity injuries because the major impact occurred when the left front corner of the car hit an embankment while travelling more than 150 km/hr. LeBeau was the only occupant to.,sustain such severe lower extremity injuries. said Morris. "None of the other . occupants had as severe lower extremity injuries as. Sarah." he added. Testings done on the driver's air •bag found deposits of saliva containing the DNA of LeBeau; according to Crown evidence. Two black deposits of what 'was said to be mascara were found' above the saliva in the location of where two eyes would be, said Morris. "lt is the position of the Crown that when the air bag deployed in this case, it was like a photograph being taken," said Morris. "This photograph,providcs us with a picture of the driver." Morris told the court that the morning of the accident, LeBeau was operating her car with "wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of others." LeBeau testified earlier in the trial she was familiar with the curve on County Road 31 leading down to a bridge that crosses the Bayfield River. She also testified she always drove slower on this section of road. ' Based on further evidence given at the trial, Morris said LeBeau consumed alcohol -at the party ,and at the time of leaving . the party, LeBeau allowed five other occupants into her car which was designed for four people. "This situation resulted in overcrowding, which 'may have affected herability to operate the motor vehicle," said Morris. Travelling at an estimated 152 km/hr, evidence given from investigating officers stated the driver oversteercd the curve, and Morris said "driver action caused the loss of control." - .Despite LeBeau's awareness of the, potential danger of this road, Morris said LeBeau "operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and Council begins budget process Council was expected to take its first look at the 1999/budget at its meeting last night but a mill rate should be available much more quickly _ than last year. Administrator • Jack McLachlan was to review -the budget with council last night with councillors expected to bring back any concerns or comments for discussion at the following meeting on July 13 at which time a final budget could be approved. Last year, council had to wait for provincial funding_ formulas to be worked out, following a year of major overhauls of how funding is distributed at the provincial level, before it could set a mill rate. . Group should be careful what is wishes for From Page 4 . our boundaries. We have more in common with Perth. which recently restructured to a two-tier system:I f Huron wants to look at bigger savings, it should seriously consider amalgamating with a' neighbouring county: -one with which we already share •administration for our education system -- both public and separate boards -- and which our hospitals and - health care are involved'with. If that's what might eventually happen, then would it not make more •sense to have a compatible two-tier system'' Why does this - group not ask its • neighbours in Perth, why it ent two-tier? This- groap-should-.be careful of what it wishes for because it might,just happen. And once •Huron went one - tier, it would very unlikely ever change back. ' What would follow shortly would he the closing of hospitals, schools and arenas which Would be easier to justify if. Huron was one big municipality. (,urge this one -tier group in Huron and the ratepayers to trust• your local politicians, whom you elected, to do. • what is in your best interest Please attend your local restructuring meetings to both listen and participate in • the decision-making process. it will be better for the future of Huron to have decisions made locally, rather than dictated to us. Sincerely, David Scott Mayor, Town of Seaforth OA, . ...still available! you Pick (pick in your own containers). Weather & Crop permitting! Monday -Friday 8-8, Saturday St Sunday 9-6 No Pecs. Supenwd Children Welcorne. Pharr for Crop Update (no n'nnthn ). WOW! SALE GONTINUES1 7A • Flats of Annuals MA'S'prF • Hanging SeedBaskets.. ALL ON LARGE • Geraniums ON. SELECTION OF SHRUBS! 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