A Manitoba man is now awaiting sentencing after a wild attack on the side of Highway 39.
Judge Karl Bazin gave his decision in Estevan provincial court on Monday and found Robert Dane guilty of impaired driving, dangerous driving and assaulting a peace officer.
The incident occurred between Estevan and Bienfait, beginning when a couple of men pulled over to see if there were any problems with another vehicle sitting on the highway's shoulder. Dane was in the stopped vehicle and a woman was standing next to the car and approached the second vehicle when it arrived.
The woman told the newcomers she had been beaten, alleging Dane assaulted her.
Dane got out of his car and put his hand on the woman, and the two men in the second vehicle offered to give the woman a ride to Bienfait.
She got in the vehicle and they drove away, but Dane was not finished. He hopped back into his vehicle and sped ahead, driving more than 130 km/h, passing the victim's vehicle and then braking hard directly in front of it.
This caused both cars to come to a stop. Dane and the two men in the other vehicle got out of their cars and a fight broke out on the side of the road.
Another vehicle with two occupants arrived at the scene of the scuffle and one got out to break up the fight.
Dane attempted to get back in his car and drive away, but one of the roadside witnesses removed the keys from the vehicle, noting he considered Dane to be intoxicated.
A member of the Estevan RCMP then arrived at the scene and approached the vehicle Dane was sitting inside. When the officer opened the door to the vehicle Dane began fighting with him.
Dane continued to yell and struggle once he was placed in the back of the cruiser.
Bazin gave a finding of not guilty on an assault charge because he determined both Dane and the alleged victim were willing participants in the roadside fight.
The matter was adjourned until Sept. 9 for sentencing. Dane's lawyer requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared in the meantime and that electronic monitoring be canvassed as part of a potential community disposition.
In other court proceedings, Jennifer Schaff pleaded not guilty to a count of fraud greater than $5,000. She selected a trial at the Court of Queen's Bench with a judge sitting alone. That matter was adjourned until June 24, at which time dates for a preliminary inquiry will be set.
