Fatal accident after Quebec woman stopped for ducks not criminal: defence lawyer

MONTREAL – The lawyer for a woman on trial in the deaths of two people whose motorcycle slammed into her vehicle after she stopped for ducks says it was an accident free of any criminal elements.

Marc Labelle delivered his closing remarks today at the jury trial of Emma Czornobaj, who is charged in the deaths of a father and daughter in June 2010.

Labelle says his client made a decision on the spur of the moment to save some ducklings on the side of a Montreal-area highway.

But he says Czornobaj then took precautions to ensure no lives were endangered by parking as far over as she could in the left lane and activating her hazard lights.

He argued that her version of the events opens the door to an acquittal on all counts.

Czornobaj is charged with two counts each of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing the deaths of Andre Roy, 50, and his 16-year-old daughter, Jessie.

The evidence was completed earlier today with the defence having called only one witness — the accused herself.

The Crown will present its closing arguments Thursday and the jury isn’t expected to be sequestered until next Monday.