Fifth person charged

Hit and run claimed Cheticamp man’s life in March

RCMP have now charged a fifth person in connection with the March 11 hit and run death of a Cheticamp man.

Chelsey Anne Marie Pinkston, 23, whose court file lists addresses on Johnstone Crescent in Sydney Mines and Campbells Road in Balls Creek, made a brief provincial court appearance Wednesday and is to return to court Oct. 17 to enter pleas.

Pinkston is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the offence of failing to stop at the scene of an accident in that she assisted Thomas Smith to escape liability by attempting to delete evidence from his cellphone and co-ordinating the destruction of Smith’s Volkswagen.

She is also charged with attempted obstruction of justice by removing evidence from Smith’s cellphone and attempted obstruction by assisting Smith in destroying the Volkswagen.

The charges relate to the death of Jackie Deveau who died after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 125, near the Mira Road exit.

Thomas Joseph Smith, 26, of Sydney, is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident, dangerous driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death (texting while driving), driving while disqualified and obstruction of justice by hiding, and repairing or burning evidence (a vehicle).

Smith, who was previously denied bail, is to appear back in court Jan. 9 and Jan. 15 for a preliminary hearing on the charges. He has elected to be tried by a Supreme Court judge and jury.

Two other men were charged last week with accessory after the fact while Smith’s mother is also charged with being an accessory after the fact and with obstruction of justice. All have been assigned plea and trial dates.