Michael Bond to plead not guilty a year after accident causing death
A 52-year-old Pelham man who allegedly struck and killed a woman with his car last November, as she was walking along Effingham Street, has decided to represent himself in court and plead not guilty to all charges.
Michael Bond is charged under the Highway Traffic Act with careless driving causing death, driving while under suspension, driving with no vehicle license, and operating an unsafe vehicle.
A year ago next week, on November 30, 2019, a 66-year-old Ridgeville woman was walking along Effingham Street, between Foss and Welland Roads, when she was struck and killed by a southbound vehicle, allegedly driven by Bond. She has not been publicly identified by police.
During a court session conducted via audio conference last Friday, November 19, prosecutor Andrew Brown noted that the case has been proceeding slowly, to which the presiding judge responded was due in part to COVID-19 court closures and restrictions. However, they agreed that an early date should be established for a pre-trial court date. A meeting has been scheduled for November 25, prior to a pre-trial date being set.
The last time he was in court, Bond told the judge that he could not afford an attorney, and the judge allowed him time to investigate one through legal aid channels.
“That's not available for me. It's just not something that I can pursue and I feel confident I can defend myself,” Bond told the judge last week.
The court clerk had a telephone number to reach Bond for the meeting, but the phone was answered by his mother, who provided an alternate number on a new cellphone Bond had procured.
“If somebody could call me back later on, let me tell you, there are some serious problems with my son,” said Bond’s mother.
“Well, we're not going to get into that at this point. I hope that you can resolve whatever issues there are with him,” said the judge.
Bond did not respond to Voice requests for comment.
