After his case was delayed a number of times, the man in his 60s who was charged in connection to a crash that left a two-year-old boy dead, was granted bail Friday.
Richard Suter, 62, is facing a number of charges, including impaired driving causing death, and two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
He was charged after his car crashed into the patio of a restaurant located in the area of 142 Street and 23 Avenue Sunday evening.
The car hit a family of four who was having dinner on the patio at the time, three of the family members survived with minor injuries, but a fourth, a 2-year-old boy named Geo, was pinned under the car.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
Suter’s first court appearance was originally slated for Tuesday, but it was delayed, and then finally put over until Thursday.
On Thursday, Suter’s bail hearing went ahead, but the judge reserved a decision until Friday.
His bail was set at $1000 written recognizance, and he can’t consume alcohol – if asked, he will be required to provide a blood, urine or breath sample to show he’s complied with the court orders.
After the decision was brought down Friday, the victim’s mother left the courtroom, the boy’s father called Suter a murderer and a disgrace to his family, and swore at him before leaving the courtroom himself.
Later, Geo’s mother Sage Morin read a statement to the media assembled outside the Law Courts.
“We as a community are disappointed in the outcome of the bail hearing,” Morin said. “The fact that this man goes home to the comforts of home, while my son lays cold in a funeral home is apparently what is called justice in this country.
“The loss of our little Geo has struck us deep in our hearts, our lives will never be the same, and the healing from this horrible tragedy will take a long, long time.”
Morin also thanked supporters of the grieving family, saying the “road ahead to trial would be arduous.”
Family members also gathered outside the courts for an emotional drum ceremony.
Defence lawyer Dino Bottos left the Law Courts from a separate entrance; he said he feared for his safety.
“By all accounts that I’ve heard, he is a standup gentleman, a leading member in his business, before he retired three years ago, no criminal record, lived, I understand, all of his life here in Edmonton,” Bottos said. “Just a well-rounded, good man, a decent man, who is grief-stricken himself by what’s occurred here.”
Suter’s next court appearance has been scheduled for June 28.
With files from David Ewasuk