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Yk lawyer seeks to overturn decision Laura Busch Northern News Services Published Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Garth Wallbridge, who was sentenced on Aug. 30, is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories on March 23. Alexander Pringle will act as his lawyer in the case. Wallbridge declined to comment on his appeal. In August, Judge Bernadette Schmaltz sentenced Wallbridge to a one-year driving ban plus one-year's probation, during which time he was ordered to attend anger management counselling. He was also fined $1,150 for dangerous driving. These penalties stem from an incident that took place March 4, 2011. Wallbridge became enraged when he got stuck behind a silver Dodge SX that was parked illegally in front of the Royal Bank on Franklin Avenue. Wallbridge used his cellphone to call bylaw officers to remove the car, but before any authorities arrived on the scene, a woman exited the bank and got into the car, which then drove away. Wallbridge, driving a dark grey Dodge Durango, proceeded to tailgate the car along Franklin Avenue and then followed it onto 47 Street. The 29-year-old driver of the silver car pulled over because he noticed he was being followed. In the exchange that followed, the younger driver took Wallbridge's cellphone out of his hand. Shortly after this, Wallbridge bumped into the other driver twice with his truck, although no injuries were sustained. He then pulled in so close beside the silver car that his truck was scratched by the car's mirror, and then proceeded to sound his vehicle's alarm for several minutes. When the RCMP showed up, the officers arrested Wallbridge and let the other driver go. During the trial Schmaltz said, "I find (Wallbridge's) testimony at best exaggerated." He admitted to his error in judgment in court: "I absolutely could have and should have gone home. It was a stupid thing to do." Wallbridge asked Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre to deliver an apology to the younger driver, who was not in attendance for sentencing.
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