By Paula Brown
GUELPH – The trial of Michelle Hanson, who is facing charges in relation to the 2018 death of her three-year old son Kaden Young, has been delayed.
The Amaranth resident’s trial was scheduled to begin on March 8 in Guelph, but was put on hold as jury trials in Ontario are currently not being held due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Jury trials in Ontario have been put on hold until May at the earliest.
Hanson appeared in Orangeville court via Zoom on Monday, along with counsel from the crown and defence to discuss the logistics of the trial. Court will reconvene on March 19.
Hanson’s trial was relocated to Guelph from Orangeville in September 2020 following a request from defence attorney Marco Forte, that the trial be held outside of the Dufferin County jurisdiction.
Forte previously spoke with the Orangeville Citizen about being aware of media and social media coverage of the case and the possible influence on the trial.
Hanson’s minivan was pulled into the Grand River in the early morning hours of Feb. 21, 2018 following heavy flooding, which saw the river water rise up onto the road.
KADEN YOUNG
Hanson, police said, drove around a “road closed” sign at the 10th Line of Amaranth and the vehicle was pulled into the river.
Both Hanson and Kaden, who was in the vehicle with his mother, managed to escape, but Kaden was pulled out of his mother’s arms by the rushing water.
Kaden’s body was later recovered under a bridge in Belwood Lake on April 21, two months to the day from the incident.
Hanson is being tried on charges of impaired driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death.
*Paula Brown is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for the Shelburne Free Press.
