The preliminary hearing of a man charged with killing a young teen on Canada Day could take as long as three weeks, court heard on Thursday.
Crown prosecutor Robin Joudrey said the hearing for Rodney Ross Arens, 32, of Red Deer could take two to three weeks, based on the volume of information and numerous witnesses.
She also said the preliminary could be shortened depending on what admissions the defence is willing to make before the hearing.
Arens, who wasn’t present in court, elected through an agent lawyer to select a Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench trial by a judge sitting alone.
The preliminary is held to determine if there’s enough evidence to warrant the accused stand trial in the higher court.
The case was adjourned to Oct. 29 to set a date for the hearing.
Red Deer lawyer Kevin Sproule acting as the agent for Shannon Prithipaul of Edmonton, said the defence is looking at a four-day preliminary hearing.
Arens faces numerous charges in the two-vehicle collision that killed 13-year-old Anouluck (Jeffrey) Chanminsraj of Red Deer.
Arens is charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, refusing to provide a breathalyzer sample and breaching conditions of previous court order not to drink alcohol.
The crash occurred around 10:55 p.m. when RCMP allege that a heavy-duty pickup truck travelling north on Taylor Drive struck the passenger side of a small southbound car as its driver, a 20-year-old woman, was making a left turn onto Kerry Wood Drive.
The boy died at the scene and an 18-year-old male passenger in the car had to be airlifted by STARS to a Calgary hospital. The female driver was taken to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre with soft tissue injuries.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com