The following statement was issued today by Lloyd M. Strickland, Director of Public Prosecutions:

“The Crown will be appealing the recent decision that led to an acquittal for Nicholas Villeneuve. Mr. Villeneuve had been charged with two counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm relating to a collision west of Gander on July 7, 2019.

Experienced Crown Attorneys with the Special Prosecutions Office regularly review court rulings in consideration of potential appeals. In this case, Public Prosecutions has identified legal errors in the rulings that led to Mr. Villeneuve’s acquittal. Accordingly, an appeal will be filed at the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal.

As this matter will be before the court, there will be no further comment from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions at this time.”

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Media contact
Kim Cooper
Executive Assistant
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
709-729-2868
kimcooper@gov.nl.ca