Broncos crash case adjourned to Oct. 23
MELFORT Defence election has been adjourned for three weeks following a brief hearing for the Alberta semi driver charged in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that killed 16 and injured 13 others in April.
On Tuesday in Melfort provincial court, Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, was expected to select his mode of trial. Instead, Sidhu’s lawyer, Satnam Aujla, appeared via speakerphone to request more time to review the “complex file.”
Defence election, which involves the accused choosing to have the case heard at either the provincial court level or the Queen’s Bench level, was adjourned to Oct. 23.
Sidhu has not yet entered any pleas to his 29 charges of dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm.
He did not appear in person for his second court date in August and was not in Melfort on Tuesday. Sidhu was released by consent during his first appearance in July, on conditions that he live at a specific address in Calgary. He is not required to be present in court until a preliminary hearing takes place.
Sidhu also had to forfeit his passport and is not allowed to drive while out of custody.
The truck driver was charged after his semi collided with a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team on April 6 north of Tisdale.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team was heading to Nipawin for a playoff game, and Sidhu was returning to Alberta from Carrot River when the vehicles crashed at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335.
No family members of the victims were in court on Tuesday. Two fathers did come for Sidhu’s first court appearance, including Scott Thomas, whose son Evan died in the crash.
He told reporters it was important for him to see Sidhu in person, and for Sidhu to see him as well.
Sidhu was arrested on July 6 and at his home in Calgary and was charged with 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
The maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death is 14 years. The maximum for dangerous driving causing bodily harm is 10 years.