Appeal hearing set for Taylor Kennedy impaired driving case

A hearing is set for the Taylor Ashley Kennedy impaired driving case at the Court of Appeals in Regina today.

In September 2021, Kennedy was charged with impaired driving causing death after she struck and killed nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice with a pickup truck.

Read more: 

• In appeal arguments, Crown says judge erred in Taylor Kennedy impaired driving case
• Impaired driving charge in Kennedy case stayed due to delays
• Cries of racism fill courtroom as judge stays impaired driving charge in Saskatoon

Kennedy was the first person in Saskatchewan that faced a THC-related impaired driving charge, and had admitted to police that she used cannabis and magic mushrooms in a 24-hour-time period before the fatal accident.

Her trial began at Saskatoon Provincial Court in October 2023, which had numerous delays that led to Judge Jane Wooten’s decision to stay the case on Dec. 14.

Kennedy’s case exceeded the 18-month window set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in its landmark 2016 decision R v. Jordan, and ran around six months past the allowable time frame.

The Crown’s written appeal arguments noted there were delays before the trial had started, and it was nearly nine months after Kennedy’s first appearance that she elected a trial by judge.

Backlogs due to the COVID-19 pandemic added to the delays and the Crown also said Charter breach notices were only filed by the defence a couple of weeks before Kennedy’s trial began, which affected the Crown’s ability to prepare.

Court documents also stated the judge has made errors in her calculations when determining the length of delays in the case.

— more to come… 

— with files from 650 CKOM’s Lara Fominoff

Read more: 

• In appeal arguments, Crown says judge erred in Taylor Kennedy impaired driving case
• Impaired driving charge in Kennedy case stayed due to delays
• Cries of racism fill courtroom as judge stays impaired driving charge in Saskatoon