Numerous family members of Nicholas Baier, an 18-year-old Olds College student killed after being run down outside an Olds bar in October 2010, plan to attend the trial of the man accused in the death when it gets underway next Monday.
Frank Van Humbeck, an uncle of Baier, said in a telephone interview Sunday that family members are glad to see the matter is now scheduled to go to trial.
“We will be attending as much as we can,” said Van Humbeck. “I work downtown (in Calgary) so I will be taking in quite a bit of it. Since we live in Calgary, my wife is going to be attending it all. I think Nicolas's mother is also going to be attending all, but the dad will try to be at some. And the cousins and uncles and aunts will try to be at some if they can make it.
“It is still a difficult process and it will be a very difficult trial for everybody. The grief never really goes away. You have to be careful not to think that the court case will bring any closure. You have to try to separate the court case from the grieving process.”
A Ford F250 drove through a group of pedestrians outside the Texas Mickey bar in Olds shortly after midnight on Oct. 29, 2010, killing Baier.
A second 19-year-old male Olds College student was injured.
Jeffrey Kevin Leinen, 25, of Calgary, faces charges of second-degree murder, dangerous operation causing death, impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and impaired driving causing harm.
Leinen's preliminary inquiry before Judge Harry Van Harten was held in Didsbury provincial court in July, when Leinen was ordered to stand trial.
Unlike first-degree murder, second-degree murder does not include planning and deliberation. It carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole for 10 years.
