LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. — The criminal case against three men facing charges stemming from the 2013 Lac-Megantic rail disaster has been put off until December.
The case was back before a judge today and a trial date could be set when proceedings resume in three months.
Train driver Tom Harding, railway traffic controller Richard Labrie and Jean Demaitre, the manager of train operations, each face 47 charges of criminal negligence causing death —one for each victim of the July 2013 oil-train derailment in the Quebec town.
Harding, Labrie and Demaitre have all pleaded not guilty.
On July 6, 2013, a parked train broke loose, roared downhill toward Lac-Megantic and bounced off the tracks, wiping out much of the downtown area.
The lawyer for Demaitre recused himself today because his cleint no longer qualified for legal-aid.