The case against a Chatsworth man — in connection with the death of one woman and injuries to another — returns to Owen Sound Superior court in a few weeks.
49 year old Laurie Porteous of Chatsworth was originally charged with second degree murder and attempted murder after two women were hit with a tractor on July 2nd of 2010, on a farm just north of Chatsworth.
At his preliminary hearing in the summer, the charges were downgraded by the Crown.
Defence Lawyer Brian Barrie tells Bayshore Broadcasting News there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed on the more serious charges.
Now, Porteous is charged with criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm, or dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
The case was in court this week and was put over to March 5th for assignment court.
Barrie says a Constable in the case has been off sick for about six months so she will be interviewed later this month to complete the preliminary inquiry.
The defence lawyer estimates the non-jury trial in Superior court will take about two weeks.
Porteous has been out on 60 thousand dollars bail with several conditions since September of 2010.
One of two women hit with the tractor, 26 year old Sareena Denesiuk of the Alliston area died following the incident.
A post mortem shows she suffered multiple internal injuries.
27 year old April Smith of Chatsworth township was also injured but recovered.
Smith had a common law relationship with the accused.
