The upcoming trial has been adjourned for a man charged with drinking and driving. The crash killed a 13-year-old boy on Canada Day in 2010.

Rodney Arens, 35, of Red Deer is charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, three charges of refusing to provide a breathalyzer sample and breach of recognizance. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

On Monday, the Court of Queens Bench heard that Arens no longer had a lawyer. He had previously obtained Will Willms of Red Deer.

His trial was scheduled to take place from March 25 to May 17. Now that it has been adjourned, it is not likely another one will take place until next year.

“I have a couple of counsels that I have been trying to get a hold of. I have only had three days to come up with something,” he told Justice Monica Bast.

Bast corrected him and said he has had seven work days to find a new counsel since informing the court he was without a lawyer.

Arens will return to court on March 4. “You will have to have counsel here then,” said Bast.

In 2010, police said Anouluck ‘Jeffrey’ Chanminaraj, 13, was riding in a Honda Civic with his 18-year-old brother Jamie and 20-year-old sister Stephanie, who was driving, at about 11 p.m. on Canada Day in 2010 when a Dodge Ram pick-up truck crashed into the passenger side of the car.

Their car was turning left through the intersection of Taylor Dr. and Kerry Wood Drive when it was allegedly struck by a drunk driver operating the pick-up truck. The siblings were on their way to see the Canada Day fireworks.

Jeffrey was pronounced dead at the scene.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com