Yarmouth County man may be sentenced Thursday for fatal car crash

Twenty-nine-year-old Jeremy Calvin d’Eon has entered guilty pleas to three charges that include one count of impaired driving causing death, one count of impaired driving causing bodily harm and one count of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified.

The matter has been the subject of a resolution conference. But because the Supreme Court justice who has been involved in the resolution conference will not be the sitting justice on Feb. 8, defence lawyer Phil Star said last week it wasn’t yet definite whether the sentencing will occur on Thursday as planned.

“It is set down for sentencing,” said Star. “Whether or not the justice will deal with it on that day is another matter.”

On Oct. 20, 2004 a single-vehicle crash occurred involving a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am that was traveling east on Highway 3 in the direction of East Pubnico. At the time of the initial investigation the RCMP said the vehicle lost control on a curve, causing it to leave the highway where it struck a tree.

Twenty-two-year-old Shannon Elizabeth Churchill, a nurse working in Kentville, who was originally from Overton, was killed in the crash.

Two other occupants of the vehicle were injured. The count of impaired driving causing bodily harm that d’Eon has pleaded guilty to pertains to Raoul Andre d’Entremont, an occupant of the vehicle.

Following an investigation into the crash, d’Eon was originally charged with 12 counts under the Criminal Code. He had elected to stand trial in Supreme Court. Before d’Eon’s change of plea the trial had been scheduled for April 2-4, with the Crown indicating that it intended to call at least 14 individuals to testify.