The trial of a man accused of killing a Dundee-born woman in a hit-and-run collision in Canada two years ago will not start for another eight months.
Cory Sater has chosen to have his case moved from a provincial court to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and the trial has been set to run for four weeks from September 30.
The death of Charlene Reaveley (nee Ogilvie) and the lengthy process in bringing the case to trial has been a source of controversy in Canada, where it became one of thousands caught in a backlog in the court system.
Charlene (30) died after stopping her car and going to the aid of a motorist whose vehicle had come off the road at Coquitlam near Vancouver on February 19 2011.
As she and husband Dan stood at the roadside they were allegedly side-swiped by a vehicle driven by 37-year-old Cory Sater, who failed to stop.
Charlene and Lorraine Cruz (27), from the stranded vehicle, were both killed.
Sater was arrested and charged with a number of offences, including causing death by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
He appeared in court but was released on bail.
The incident received nationwide media coverage across Canada, with much of the attention focused on mother-of-four Charlene.
Her selfless actions in going to the aid of a stranded motorists saw her being called the “good Samaritan” victim of the tragedy, and even Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, expressed concern at the circumstances.
The case became caught in a log-jam unable to reach court because of delays in the justice system due in part to funding problems and an apparent shortage of judges.
The accused person being able to choose the type of court in which to stand trial can also hold up proceedings.
There were concerns it might be thrown out as cases in Canada can be dismissed for unreasonable delays if they have been in the system for 18 months.
The Sater case was called last week and was allocated a start date of September 30 because trials thought likely to run into weeks are pushed further back into the court schedule.
The development was greeted with anger and frustration by the victim’s husband Dan and father Colin Ogilvie, who told The Courier he and his son-in-law thought the case may become spun out and are very unhappy that it is to take so long.
He said: “Our feelings are the same as the day the driver’s name became known.
“Charlene is always missed and I will go to court to observe the handing out of this country’s supreme justice system.”
The Ogilvies were originally from Fintry in Dundee and Colin took his family to live in Canada 25 years ago in search of a better future.
The tragedy inspired Charlene’s husband and father to set up a charity in her name which offers emotional and financial assistance to families with children experiencing the loss of a loved one.
It helps ease the stress of the bereavement by providing practical tools and resources for families, and the charity received a Queen’s Award last week.
The second gala night in memory of Charlene and to raise money for her cause will be held on Friday April 5 the anniversary of her birth in Dundee in 1980.