The Telegram (St. John's)
News, Saturday, April 2, 2005, p. A1

Crime
 

Charges laid in traffic death

by Bradley Bouzane

Police laid charges Friday in connection to the tragic hit-and-run death of a Portugal Cove-St. Philip's teenager earlier this week, but following a court appearance, Robert Weston Parsons was freed on bail.

Four days after 15-year-old Matthew Rodney Churchill was hit from behind and killed while he and a friend walked along the Bauline Line, police laid one charge against Parsons, 53, of 108 Bauline Line, Portugal Cove. The boy walking with Matthew was treated for minor injuries and shock, but later released from hospital.

Parsons has been charged with failing to stop at the scene of a motor vehicle accident where someone has been injured and failing to provide information and assistance to the injured individual.

Serious charge

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) Staff Sgt. June Layden said a charge of manslaughter, or similar terms such as vehicular homicide, which only exist in the United States, do not apply in this case.

"The charge that has been laid is a significant charge, which carries up to life imprisonment if Mr. Parsons is convicted under this section of the Canadian Criminal Code," Layden told reporters following Parsons' first appearance, where the accused appeared stoic and dressed in street clothes.

Investigation continues

She said further charges would be a result of the ongoing investigation, but said the RNC, at this point, only has grounds for the charge Parsons is now facing.

Layden said police have indications Parsons was drinking prior to the Monday evening collision. The extent of the potential impairment, however, is something police are still looking at.

She said any further charges are dependent on what information police are able to get from their investigation.

At the same time as Matthew's funeral Friday at 2 p.m., Parsons returned to court where he was freed on $40,000 worth of sureties.

He signed a personal recognizance of $20,000, while his wife Joan accounted for the rest.

Conditions

Under his conditions of release, he must keep the peace and report to the RNC each Wednesday. Parsons must not possess or consume alcohol or enter any establishment that serves it, and he had to surrender his driver's licence.

Parsons is also not permitted to leave the province, or have contact with the victim's family and a number of other individuals.

He is scheduled to return to court May 13 at 9:30 a.m.

Layden said what Parsons' actions might have been after the accident are part of the investigation and she would not comment further.

Parsons had his lawyer, Bob Simmons, contact the RNC late Thursday afternoon and the two then went to police headquarters and gave police some information, but not enough to allow charges to be laid that night.

A team of 12 investigating officers worked on the file through the night to determine who was the operator of the vehicle, which is registered in his wife's name.

As agreed Thursday, Parsons and his lawyer went back to police headquarters Friday morning, when the charge was laid.

Layden said no deals were arranged between police and Parsons through his lawyer.

Joan Parsons has no charges against her in relation to the incident, and Layden said Robert Parsons was alone in the car at the time of the incident, which happened at about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Layden said there are likely no grounds to lay a criminal obstruction charge against the registered owner, but she said under the Highway Traffic Act, an owner is required to declare who the operator of a vehicle was at the time of an accident.

Therefore, Layden said, it is possible Joan Parsons may face a traffic ticket charge.

She said Matthew's family was aware of the court proceedings, through a liaison officer, but said any further contact between police and Matthew's family is not something she can disclose.

An only child, Matthew is survived by his parents Rod and Desma Churchill.

bbouzane@thetelegram.com