May 25, 2010
By Jeff Parkinson
When Michael Bryant was arrested last year in the death of 33 year old cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard, it seemed that all efforts were being made to ensure that his status as former attorney general would not fetch him special treatment. He was released without a bail hearing, but aside from that he appeared to face the same treatment that anyone else would expect when their actions result in death.
Bryant was charged with criminal negligence causing death, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death after he apparently hit the gas to shake loose a cyclist who had grabbed his steering wheel. We don’t know why Sheppard grabbed the wheel, and we don’t know why Bryant hit the gas to shake him loose, but we do know that a man is dead, and nobody is being held accountable.
A special prosecutor from BC was appointed to handle the case, and by all appearances Bryant seemed destined to face the justice system on an even keel.
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