Kirkwood trial: judge implores lawyers to find time for oral submissions

CORNWALL – A provincial judge has indicated he wants to see every effort made to make sure final submissions are entered orally in the trial of Catriona Kirkwood.

The 42-year-old Chesterville mother had a trial earlier this month on a charge of careless driving in the February 2015 death of Morrisburg lawyer Peter Remillard.

Kirkwood’s vehicle collided head-on with Remillard’s SUV on a stretch of County Road 7, south of Chesterville.

During court proceedings Tuesday morning for a status check on the case, defence lawyer Neha Chugh, acting on behalf of Neil Weinstein, said Weinstein had only one available day in November, at this point, for an oral submission.

“Both parties (need to) put their heads together” to set a date, Chugh said.

Justice of the Peace Serge Legault agreed, indicating he had already received an email that morning about the case.

Legault urged the lawyers to coordinate with the Provincial Offences Act regional office to try and find a date that works for the Crown and defence.

At this time, both sides are drafting written submissions.

The case will return to court Nov. 21.

A “target date” for a verdict from Judge Karen Baum is set for Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017.