Protesters push for justice in case of fatal crash near Windsor
Protesters attended a court hearing in Windsor, N.S., Tuesday for a man facing serious charges after a fatal car crash.
Police say Andrew Blaine Rafuse, 25, was driving a vehicle on Bog Road near Windsor on June 22 when it crashed. Dashonn States, 22, died and two other passengers were also hurt.
Rafuse is charged with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and impaired driving causing death.
Protesters, including ones from Black Lives Matter, said that as a young black man, States had had bad experiences with the justice system. They want to ensure justice is served in the case involving his death.
"Our hopes to accomplish today is just to make the statement that we're going to fight for justice for Dashonn," said Nicole States, his stepmother.
She said the family has had poor communications with the Crown attorney prosecuting the case against Rafuse and feels left out of the process.
The Public Prosecution Service of Nova Scotia declined to comment because they said the matter is before the courts.
'Dashonn's life mattered'
The family invited Halifax-based activist El Jones to the demonstration, where friends and family chanted "black lives matter" and "Dashonn's life mattered."
"We know that there's long histories of racism in justice in all our communities, but in Windsor as well," Jones told CBC News.
She said previous negative encounters with the police and courts meant "relationships of trust" did not exist between the family and Crown and police.
The family said the Crown attorney prosecuting Rafuse, Bill Ferguson, also prosecuted States when he was in trouble with the law. They said they worry States will still be seen as a criminal rather than a victim.
Jones said the family notes that Rafuse, who is white, got bail the day after the crash and the Crown did not oppose his release. On the other hand, they say when black family members have faced charges, bail has been opposed.
"They still feel marginalized in the system and they feel there are inequalities in the ways a white accused is treated differently from how they experienced black people who are accused of crimes," she said.
'He was a great person'
Nicole States said her stepson's death left a hole in the family.
"He was a great person. He was kind, he was loving. He was a great brother, a great son — very family oriented. He loved to work on cars, he loved to help people work on their cars."
Rafuse was not in court Tuesday, but his lawyer Chris Manning appeared on his behalf. Judge Ronda van der Hoek oversaw the hearing and said it will return to Windsor provincial court for election and plea on Aug. 22.
