SaskatchewanThe Saskatchewan Court of Appeal heard arguments Wednesday in Regina concerning a high-profile cannabis impairment case in Saskatoon. Provincial court Judge Jane Wootten stayed the charge on Dec. 13, 2024, ruling that the case took longer than the 18-month time limit set by the Supreme Court. In 2024, a provincial court judge stayed the charge related to the death of Baeleigh MauriceListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesTaylor Kennedy, left, was charged with impaired driving causing death after nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice died when Kennedy hit her with her truck on Sept. 9, 2021. (Facebook)The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal heard arguments on Wednesday in Regina concerning a high-profile cannabis impairment case in Saskatoon. Taylor Kennedy was charged with impaired driving causing death after nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice died when Kennedy hit her with her truck on Sept. 9, 2021.Kennedy told police she had vaped cannabis and microdosed psilocybin mushrooms the day before.The case went to trial in provincial court, but Judge Jane Wootten stayed the charge on Dec. 13, 2024, ruling the case had taken longer than the 18-month time limit set by the Supreme Court. It was still before the court approximately six months past that time frame.The Crown’s written appeal argument noted there were delays before the trial had started, and nearly nine months elapsed after Kennedy’s first court appearance before she chose trial by judge.Judge Wootten’s decision was met with shock and anger in the courtroom. The Crown filed its appeal a month later in January 2025. Taylor Kennedy leaves the provincial courthouse in Saskatoon during the trial. Her charge was ultimately stayed. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)Kennedy was charged on March 15, 2022. Final arguments in the trial took place Aug. 30, 2024.At the time, Kennedy’s defence argued that, outside reasonable delays, the case had taken 23 months. The Crown argued that when all reasonable delays were factored in, such as constitutional and Charter challenges and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the case had taken about 14 months. At Wednesday’s appeal hearing, the Crown argued the trial judge erred by concluding there was no evidence allowing for the COVID-19 backlog delay to be counted.The Crown also argued that the trial judge erred by deducting interim judicial deliberation time. The Crown ultimately requested the appeal be permitted, the stay lifted and the case remitted to the trial judge so the trial can be continued with the remaining evidence and arguments.The defence argued the trial judge did not err in her December conclusion that the delay in the case was unreasonable. The three appeal court justices reserved judgement to an unspecified later date. Baeleigh Maurice’s family has previously said the charge against Kennedy should have not been stayed. “They hope there’s a quick turnaround on the decision from the judges and it moves quickly so the family has time to accept and move on to the next steps, whatever that may look like,” family spokesperson Sarah Smokeyday told CBC after the hearing. ABOUT THE AUTHORLaura is a journalist, radio host and newsreader at CBC Saskatchewan. She previously worked at CBC Vancouver, CBC Toronto and The Globe and Mail. She has also guest reported on the BBC World Service. Laura specializes in human interest, arts and health care coverage. She holds a Master of Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia. Send Laura news tips at laura.sciarpelletti@cbc.caWith filed from Aliyah Marko-Omene
Justices hear Crown appeal of Taylor Kennedy impaired driving case related to death of 9-year-old
