All charges against former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant in connection to the death of cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard were dropped Tuesday.
The former provincial cabinet minister had been charged with negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing death after an alleged confrontation between Sheppard, 33, and Bryant on Bloor Street near Avenue Road on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. Prosecutor Richard Peck withdrew those charges Tuesday morning at the Old City Hall courts.
“It was clear from our conclusions that Mr. Bryant had been attacked by a man who was unfortunately in a rage. In such circumstances he was legally justified in attempting to get away,” he said.
Peck told the court Sheppard had twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system at the time of the incident and he'd been involved in other incidents with drivers in the weeks before the collision with Bryant.
The alleged confrontation happened around 9:45pm as Bryant and his wife were driving home from a restaurant. It had apparently been sparked by a minor collision involving a convertible Saab and Sheppard’s bike.
Witnesses reported Sheppard got off his bike and hung on to the car while it was moving and suffered critical injuries when it allegedly swerved and he fell and hit his head on the curb or road. The bike courier died in hospital hours later.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Bryant addressed the accusations he had received special treatment because of his position and that the incident was anything other than a tragic accident.
“It is not a morality play about bikes versus cars, couriers versus drivers or one about class, privilege or politics. It’s just about how in 28 seconds everything can change,” he said.
“Obviously, I wish that none of it had happened – none of it … I was terrified, panicked.”
Bryant was one of several people who called 911 following the incident. He spent that night in jail and briefly addressed the media upon his release. The former politician resigned from his post as CEO of Invest Toronto days after.