By Ian Holmes

UPDATE: man accused in fatal hit-and-run in Cedar back in custody

Jun 28, 2018 | 11:55 AM

NANAIMO — UPDATE: The man on trial in a fatal hit-and-run in Cedar in 2015 is back in custody after he missed a Thursday morning court appearance.

Court was told Dustin Dennis Zinter, 41, was arrested at 12:50 p.m. on June 28 at a home on Departure Bay Rd. near Granite Park Rd. An arrest warrant was issued by the Honourable Justice Robin Baird earlier in the day after Zinter no-showed for a 10 a.m. continuation of his trial.

Justice Baird informed Zinter his bail was revoked and he would remain in custody, pending a bail hearing Friday morning.

“What? You’re putting me back in jail?,” Zinter said from the prisoners’ box, with cuffs around his hands and legs.

Zinter became emotional, raising his voice at times, saying he slept in and his missed court appearance was not intentional.

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Justice Baird then took exception to Zinter speaking over him.

“Don’t talk! Don’t talk anymore Mr. Zinter! I don’t want to hear from you, I’m telling you right now to be quiet!”

“Please, I’ve just built my life back, don’t do this, honestly I just slept in, please! No!,” Zinter pleaded to no avail before being led away by sheriffs.

EARLIER:

A man on trial for a fatal hit-and-run south of Nanaimo in 2015 failed to show up for the resumption of his trial, prompting a judge to issue an arrest warrant.

The Honourable Justice Robin Baird issued the warrant for Dustin Dennis Zinter, 41, Thursday after he defied orders he return to BC Supreme Court for the continuation of his trial.

Zinter pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to provide a breath sample, following a crash in Cedar. The crash killed Heidi Plato, 51, of Ladysmith.

Justice Baird ordered an unendorsed warrant, which indicates to police to keep Zinter in custody until he appears before the Court.

“Sheriffs, if Mr. Zinter appears in this courthouse or anywhere near it to your knowledge I want him arrested, I want that warrant executed and I want him before me.”

Crown prosecutor Nick Barber told Court he received correspondence from Zinter early Thursday morning, however Barber said there wasn’t an indication Zinter wouldn’t attend.

Zinter called NanaimoNewsNOW Wednesday, outlining concerns about media coverage of his case, and also contending the judicial system is stacked against him. Repeated calls from NanaimoNewsNOW to Zinter following his no-show in Court went unanswered.

With Zinter nowhere to be seen, it remains unclear when his trial will be concluded. Baird informed Court he won’t be in Nanaimo to hear cases beyond this week until early October.

The Crown called 14 witnesses during the course of a nearly week-long trial before they rested their case last Thursday.

The trial took a bizarre turn when Zinter fired his lawyer, Stephen Taylor, last Friday morning and later requested an adjournment, which was denied.

Zinter returned to court Monday with the intention of a new lawyer representing him, however that lawyer informed Court he would not work for Zinter.

The Crown alleged Zinter’s truck veered across Yellow Point Rd. near Cedar Rd. and hit Plato’s pickup on Nov 10, 2015.

The Crown also alleged Zinter was using his phone at the time, while there are contradicting reports from people on scene whether Zinter smelled of alcohol or not.

Zinter is also accused of running from the scene prior to his arrest later the same evening.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes