A man accused in a drunk driving incident in 2010 that killed a teenager has yet to set a trial date, pending the hiring of a new lawyer.
Rodney Ross Arens, 35, of Sylvan Lake was scheduled to have the matter go to an eight-week long trial starting on March 25, but that was postponed when he fired his lawyer. He has yet to hire a new lawyer and said he has been trying to hire Craig Paterson as defence counsel.
Crown Attorney Robin Joudrey said Paterson had informed the Crown that Paterson would not be representing Arens. But Arens insisted he was trying to make bail and would then speak with Paterson in an effort to hire him.
Arens was to have set a trial date on Monday in connection with a Canada Day impaired driving incident near Bower Ponds in Red Deer in which a 13-year-old boy was killed and his older brother and sister were injured.
On April 11, his bail was set at $1,500 deposit and a surety of $10,000, a guarantee from another person who agrees to be held responsible for an accused’s actions during the period of release.
Arens was been unable to raise bail as of Monday and remains in custody on charges of impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving causing injury, dangerous driving causing injury, refusing to provide police with a sample of his breath and breaching conditions of his release on older charges.
Because he has yet to hire a lawyer, his matter has been set over the next arraignment date in Red Deer, June 3.