A man charged for allegedly attacking a woman with a crowbar in a fit of road rage has pleaded not guilty in court.
Jared Matthew Eliasson was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of an offensive weapon dangerous to the public, and possession of property under $5,000 after the March 7, 2017, incident.
The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges in court on Monday. His lawyer is arguing there is no evidence to prove he was the attacker.
The alleged assault happened in southeast Edmonton, near Mill Creek Ravine. Chelsea Schendzielorz testified she honked her horn at a Pontiac Wave that was stopped in the lane at an intersection near Mill Creek Ravine.
She says the accused looked over his shoulder and drove forward so she could turn right, but the two exchanged dirty looks.
After arriving home less than half a block away, Schendzielorz says she spotted the silver vehicle again.
She told court, “I got out and I turned because I thought he was going to start yelling at me for honking my horn, and he raised up with both his hands and swung down.”
“My arm dropped. He raised the bar again and said, ‘Die, b****, die,’ and came crashing down again, except on my right arm this time.”
Both of Schendzielorz’s arms were broken.
Police later found a crowbar in that Pontiac Wave outside Eliasson’s mother’s house.
The defence says their client was the driver Schendzielorz honked at, but is trying to cast doubt it was Eliasson who committed the attack. Police did not find fingerprints on the crowbar or blood on a jacket he was wearing.
Part of the attack can be heard in dash cam video, but was not actually captured.There were no witnesses.
The judge-only trial is expected to last one week.
With files from Dan Grummett
