Sask. lawyers defend judge for staying fatal THC-impaired driving charge [Video]

The Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association is defending a provincial court judge, who’s facing backlash for staying a charge in a high-profile case involving the death of a child.

On Sept. 9, 2021, Baeleigh Maurice was walking her scooter along a Saskatoon crosswalk when she was hit and killed by Taylor Kennedy’s truck.

At the crash scene, Kennedy told officers she vaped marijuana and micro-dosed magic mushrooms the day prior.

Kennedy was charged with impaired driving exceeding the prescribed blood-drug concentration of THC, causing death.

Last week, Judge Jane Wootten stayed the charge against Kennedy, ruling she wasn’t tried within a reasonable time.

Friends and family of Maurice say the justice system failed the nine-year-old girl.

“Our hearts were ripped out, because once again we watched the justice system fail,” Sarah Smokeyday, a family friend, told reporters on Tuesday.

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