A short adjournment could lead to a quick resolution for a man accused of running over and killing a woman.
Jason John Powell, 40, is charged with several offences in the death of Chasity Holman, 41, of Red Deer. Holman was killed on Nov. 5 near the Penhold Multiplex last week.
Powell made his first appearance on Tuesday in Red Deer provincial court. Appearing from the Red Deer Remand Centre by closed circuit television, the charges were read to him and his counsel Kevin Sproule.
Crown Prosecutor Ann MacDonald elected to proceed by indictment, which means a more significant penalty if the accused is convicted.
Family and friends came to watch the proceedings, but declined to comment afterwards.
Sproule told Powell and the court that a resolution proposal had been made at Powell’s request the Crown Prosecutor assigned to the file, but had not received a response.
Sproule requested a short adjournment to Friday in Red Deer provincial court for the Crown to respond. Judge James Glass granted the adjournment.
Innisfail RCMP were called to the Penhold multiplex at 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 5 to a report of a pedestrian being hit by a car. Witnesses reported seeing a car with one occupant strike an adult pedestrian and then try to leave the scene, but the vehicle got stuck on a berm and the driver fled the scene on foot.
Police arrived on scene and arrested the male suspect nearby without incident.
Holman was transported to hospital, but died of the injuries she sustained.
Powell is charged with dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving causing death, failing to provide a breath sample while operating a vehicle that was involved in the death of a person and driving while disqualified.
Powell was convicted of driving while having a blood alcohol content level over 0.08 on June 19, 2014 and as a result was disqualified from driving.
Police said Holman and Powell were known to each other.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com