Former Canadien Kassian to testify in impaired case
Former Habs winger Zack Kassian is expected back in Montreal — not through a hockey trade but by a subpoena.
The former Montreal Canadien is expected to be a witness in November for the case in which Alison de Courcy-Ireland, 22, of Montreal, is charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm. De Courcy-Ireland is alleged to have been behind the wheel of an F-350 truck that crashed into a tree on Oct. 4, 2015, on Clanranald Ave. in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Kassian, 26, was in the vehicle at the time and suffered injuries — a broken nose and a broken left foot — that set back his very brief career with the Canadiens. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers several weeks later and is still a member of the team.
During a hearing at the Montreal courthouse on Wednesday, defence lawyer Andrew Barbacki informed Quebec Court Judge Manlio Del Negro that de CourcyIreland wants to have a trial before a judge and a jury.
The judge was also informed that Barbacki and prosecutor Alexandre Gautier have requested that a preliminary inquiry be held over the course of two days in November.
Del Negro questioned why two days would be required for preliminary inquiry in a simple impaired driving case. Gautier replied that a couple of aspects of the evidence will be challenged, including the alcohol level involved as well as the gravity of the injuries victims suffered in the crash. Kassian is listed on the charge sheet as one of the victims. At least one other woman was inside the vehicle and was injured when it crashed.
While Kassian’s name wasn’t mentioned in court on Wednesday, Barbacki suggested “the player” might have a scheduling conflict in November. The NHL season begins in October and the league has yet to release the new season’s schedule.
Gautier said six witnesses are expected to be called to testify during the preliminary inquiry, and Barbacki made a formal request that de Courcy-Ireland’s trial be held in English.
The company that owned the Ford F-350, Le Roi du camion, filed a civil lawsuit against Kassian and de Courcy-Ireland in June 2016. According to the statement of claim, the company “gratuitously loaned” the vehicle to Kassian on Sept. 25, 2015.
According to court records, Kassian settled his part of the lawsuit through an out-of-court agreement on March 22.