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Panthers defenceman has pleaded not guilty to drunk driving
Karen Kleiss, edmontonjournal.com
Published: Thursday, June 14, 2007

EDMONTON - The drunk-driving trial of NHL defenceman Jay Bouwmeester has been postponed until September.

The Edmonton-born Bouwmeester, who received a $4.35-million US contract with the Florida Panthers last summer, was expected to begin his trial today after pleading not guilty to impaired driving charges in October.

He faces one charge of impaired driving and one of driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08.

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Thu, June 14, 2007
NHLer charged near Whyte Ave. in August
By TONY BLAIS, COURT BUREAU

Edmonton NHL hockey player Jay Bouwmeester – an All-Star defenceman with the Florida Panthers – intends to plead guilty to drunk driving this fall.

Bouwmeester, 23, had been slated to go to trial this afternoon on a charge of impaired driving after earlier entering a plea of not guilty, however his lawyer had the case moved into Edmonton’s provincial court in the morning.

Prominent defence lawyer Alex Pringle and Crown prosecutor Robert Palser agreed before a judge to have the trial adjourned to Sept. 4 for summary disposition.

Outside court, Palser explained summary disposition is where accused people agree to plead guilty, sometimes on lesser charges, and the two sides agree on the facts.

“It will be a guilty plea,” said Palser.

No reason was given in court why the case was put over until September, however Bouwmeester recently underwent successful surgery on his injured right hip.

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