EDMONTON – A judge has granted bail Friday afternoon to a 62-year-old Richard Suter, who is accused of being impaired when he crashed his SUV into a restaurant patio Sunday, killing a toddler.
Police allege Suter was in his vehicle, stopped outside Ric’s Grill restaurant on Edmonton’s south side, when he shifted into drive instead of reverse.
Two-year-old Geo Mounsef ended up being pinned to a wall and later died. His parents were also injured, but his five-month-old brother was unharmed.
As judge was reading her decision on Suter’s bail, the boy’s mother stormed out of the courtroom, while the child’s father screamed expletives at the accused, who appeared on a video screen.
“Rot in hell,” George Mounsef shouted at Richard Suter. “You’re a disgrace to your family!”
Provincial court Judge Janet Dixon paused during the outburst and stumbled briefly over her words, but continued despite two more disruptions from the angry crowd.
Several sheriffs and police officers were on hand to escort people from the courtroom.
Clutching a framed photo of her son, Sage Morin read a statement to media outside the courthouse, expressing her disappointment in the outcome of the bail hearing.
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“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,” she said. “The loss of our little Geo has struck us deep in our hearts. Our lives will never be the same.”
She added that the family is deeply moved by the outpouring of support they’ve received.
Details of the bail hearing cannot be revealed due to a publication ban, but Judge Dixon ordered Richard Suter to stay away from alcohol when he is released. His driver’s licence was also suspended by police at the time of the crash.
Suter faces charges of impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, and refusing to give a breath sample.
“My client is very saddened by what had happened here. He has not begun to deal with this himself,” said Suter’s lawyer, Dino Bottos. “So now he at least he can go now and start dealing with this in a slightly more comfortable surrounding.”
Suter’s next scheduled court appearance is on June 28, and his lawyer plans to contest the claims that his client was drunk when he drove onto the restaurant patio.
“There will be a strong challenge to the allegation that my client was impaired, and I suggest that this was a mistake.”
Two-year-old Geo Mounsef died in hospital Sunday evening, after being pinned to a wall when Suter’s vehicle crashed through the patio at Ric’s Grill in Terwillegar near 142 Street and 23 Avenue.
Suter’s bail hearing was adjourned Tuesday, after the defence requested two days to examine witness statements.
Both the Crown and the Defence spoke at Thursday afternoon’s bail hearing. The courtroom was filled with people, many even lining the walls of the room. The judge addressed the crowd, saying if there was an outburst, offending individuals would be removed from the courtroom.
The Crown was opposing bail.
Suter spoke only once, during the beginning of Thursday’s hearing. He said he understood how the proceedings would take place.
A group gathered outside the Alberta Courts Thursday morning, calling for justice and showing its support for the toddler and his family.
The group of about 20 people could be heard chanting “fight for justice, fight for Geo.”
After Friday’s proceedings, a family member beat on an aboriginal drum outside the courthouse, singing a Cree song about carrying on.
“We will persist in seeking justice for Geo, hoping that this preventable tragedy will never strike or shatter other families again,” said his mom. “Geo is forever in our hearts.”
A funeral for the boy is set to be held Wednesday.
With files from Quinn Ohler, Global News and Chris Purdy of The Canadian Press
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