Plea bargain sought in N.L. racing death

The case against a central Newfoundlandman charged after a senior died ina car racing incident may be resolved with a plea bargain that avoidsa trial.

Ryan Watkins, 20, of Summerford appeared in a Gander provincial courtroomThursday morning.

In court, Crown lawyer Jerred Moore told Judge Harold Porterhe's trying to negotiate a way to avoid a trial with Watkins's lawyer, Kevin Baker.

Watkins has been in custody since Henerietta Head, 71, died May 9. Two cars that were racing forced her car off the Reach Run Causeway, outside Boyd's Cove near northeastern Newfoundland, and into the ocean.

Head was foundin a partly submerged car.

On May 11, RCMP arrested Watkins and Boyd's Cove resident Richard Glibbery, also 20.

Criminal charges laid

Watkins was charged with with impaired driving causing death, street racing causing death by criminal negligence, dangerous driving causing death by street racing and failure to stop at the scene of an accident and provide assistance.

Watkins was also charged with breaching a court order to stay at his parent's house.

Glibbery wascharged with street racing causing death by criminal negligence, dangerous driving causing death by street racing, failure to stop at the scene of an accident and provide assistance and two court order breaches.

Court records in Ontario showWatkins had been in trouble with the law several times in the two years leading up to the crash. He had pleaded guilty to trying to rob a Toronto convenience store with a fake gun and a mask.

Because of the plea, Watkins was allowed to travel with his mother to Newfoundland, where he was to continue to serve house arrest while he awaited sentencing.

The conditions of Watkins's release stipulated that he be supervised with his parents or attend a school in the central Newfoundland town of Lewisporte sohe could learn a trade.

Court documents also show that Watkins had been fined for speeding, having open liquor in a car and driving with a suspended licence.

He had also been charged with assaulting his girlfriend in January 2007, although that charge was dropped after Watkins signed a peace bond.

Glibbery was also in courtThursday in Gander. Both men our scheduled to appear in court again Nov. 10.