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A Windsor man pleaded guilty in court Monday to failing to stop at the scene following a fatal collision with a child on Jefferson Boulevard in late 2020.
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Christopher Filiault also confessed to a count of obstruction of justice for “intentionally destroying evidence” left on his vehicle when it crashed into seven-year-old Kuothhorko ‘Kuzi’ James on Jefferson Boulevard near Haig Avenue at approximately 8:45 pm on Nov. 15, 2020, before fleeing the scene.
It was a short Zoom appearance Monday before Ontario Court Justice Gregory Campbell. Facts in the case will be read out at a court appearance in March, at which time victim impact statements will also be read out and the Crown and defense will make sentencing submissions.
Filiault, 46, was tracked down, arrested and charged by police nearly two weeks after the deadly collision with the young pedestrian. He was charged with failing to stop and render assistance at the scene of a fatal accident; criminal negligence causing death; and obstruction of justice. He pleaded guilty on Monday to two of those three charges.
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Following the collision, Windsor Police Service investigators released surveillance footage from the area and asked for the public’s assistance in finding the suspect minivan and driver involved. Four days after the death of Kuzi, police seized a 2006 Dodge Caravan from a residence in the 2700 block of Chandler Road.
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The boy’s parents listened in on Zoom during Monday’s brief proceedings. The judge heard that the matters before the court surrounding the Nov. 15 incident would all be dealt with next month. Filiault is facing another criminal matter before the court which was added Monday at the request of the defence.
Following Kuzi’s death, flowers and toys were placed at the scene and more than 100 people attended a subsequent candlelight vigil at that location. The Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex Chapter said at the time its members were “shattered” at the tragic loss of a young child of one of its member families.
Kuzi, who died shortly before his eighth birthday, was described as a bright-eyed, sweet-natured and energetic boy who loved to run, paint and play.
