Careless driving trial involving pedestrian death adjourned

By Herald on March 30, 2022.

Delon Shurtz – LETHBRIDGE HERALD

The trial for a Lethbridge man charged with careless driving involving the death of a young boy has been adjourned for several months.

Neil Martin Skjodt, 54, was scheduled for a week-long trial beginning Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, but it was cancelled after the accused’s lawyer was unable to attend because of a family medical emergency.

The matter returned to court Tuesday where the trial was rescheduled for Aug. 29-Sept. 2. The Crown noted there were earlier dates to which the trial could be moved, and the Crown was available as early as July. However, because the defence was not available then, the dates in August and September were chosen.

Skjodt was charged after a 10-year-old boy was struck and killed by a motor vehicle April 13, 2020. A large SUV turning right onto Whoop-Up Drive near Aquitania Boulevard struck two young boys crossing in the crosswalk with their father. The older boy died in the hospital.

Skjodt pleaded not guilty several months later to a single charge of careless driving under the Traffic Safety Act, and his lawyer explained a trial is necessary to deal with specific issues.

Skjodt was charged under the Traffic Safety Act rather than the Criminal Code after investigating officers determined there was no criminality involved in the incident. The charge allows for a maximum fine of $2,000 or six months in jail, or both, and possibly licence suspension.

The Crown had hoped a trial could be held last year, but the matter was repeatedly adjourned while the defence waited for its expert to provide a traffic reconstruction report, which was requested in response to a report prepared by the Crown’s expert.

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