Grieving relatives and friends of a man killed in an impaired driving crash will have to endure another delay before the man responsible is sentenced.
(VOCM News)
They began huddling outside provincial court a good half hour before the case was to be called this morning — their message emblazoned on their white custom T-shirts: “Justice for our son Markie.”
But they did not get that today, and likely won’t for at least another couple of months.
It was just after 6 a.m. on Sunday, December 10th, 2023, when a vehicle slammed into an NL Housing unit at the corner of Empire Avenue and Graves Street in St. John’s.
Thirty-two-year-old Mark Squires was killed while his cousin Andrew Squires, and the driver, 38-year-old Rod Constantine, suffered serious, life-altering injuries.
Three months later, Constantine was charged with five counts including impaired and dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, as well as driving while prohibited — twice since the fatal crash.
Guilty pleas were entered in July by Constantine’s lawyer, but he has since withdrawn from the case “due to a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship.” The accused is now seeking Legal Aid to represent him on sentencing.
Judge Paul Noble said that will “regrettably” delay the case further, apologizing to the packed courtroom but also asking for patience and respect for the process.
Everyone is expected back in court for an update on October 29th.
