Bryant getting back in stride

Michael Bryant goes out for a run on the boardwalk a day after criminal charges against him were dropped. (STAN BEHAL/Toronto Sun)

Former attorney general is cagey about his future

 Toronto Sun

 

Last Updated: May 26, 2010 8:24pm

By DON PEAT, Toronto Sun

A day after his criminal charges were dismissed in the death of a cyclist, Michael Bryant was back in the running … along Toronto’s beaches.

A day after his criminal charges were dismissed in the death of a cyclist, Michael Bryant was back in the running … along Toronto’s beaches.

Sun photographer Stan Behal, out shooting photos of Torontonians dealing with the record-setting heat, snapped a bare-chested Bryant, 44, jogging along the boardwalk in the Beach before noon on Tuesday.

It was the antithesis of the media circus that surrounded the former attorney general a day earlier at Old City Hall where charges of criminal negligence causing the death of Darcy Allan Sheppard and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death were withdrawn by the outside prosecutor brought in to handle the case.

Bryant, wearing his hat backward and earphones, was running alone in the hot sun and 30C-plus temperatures.

Realizing he was caught on camera, Bryant, a lawyer and former St. Paul’s MPP, stopped and chatted with Behal for a few minutes.

He told him the ordeal has been tough on his family, Behal said.

Later in the day, Bryant declined an interview request through a spokesman at the public relations firm Navigator.

Whether Bryant will be running for any political office in the future is a lingering question from his criminal case.

At the press conference called after his court appearance Tuesday, Bryant didn’t rule out a political future.

“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about much other than getting through this experience one day at a time … and I don’t know what the future holds,” he told reporters. “I do know that I’ve got some legal bills to pay and that I will be going back to work.”

But University of Toronto professor Nelson Wiseman said Bryant must think he has a political future.

“He had a press conference,” Wiseman said. “Why else would he have a press conference?”

Former Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella said Bryant will have a political future if he wants it, but for now he’s doing “what he should be doing” and focusing on his family.

“He’s a capable guy … he’s pretty popular among Liberals, he has never had difficulty getting elected,” said Kinsella, who admits he’s biased because he has worked with Bryant.

“He can bounce back from just about anything. He’s one very bright and dedicated individual.”

don.peat@sunmedia.ca

Your Comments

A Sad day for us Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 10:29pm

If this were a regular person they would stand trial.The POLICE would tell me or you that if you have a person getting agressive with u call 911.And if i drove my car at high speeds trying to knock someone off the side of my car,charged and TRIED IN A COURT OF LAW> The police would say u should call us and sit tight not kill the guy,now you will go to jail.But if u have power the rules change.This is just another examle of the rich and powerfull getting away with breaking the law.

BurningPaper Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 10:27pm

Mr. Bryant was the only politician to ever take an honest interest in my battle for non-smokers rights in the Construction workplace. Hopefully now that he has had his perspective so widely broadened he will re-examine this issue and provide the political will to do what is right.

Hundreds of thousands of non-smokers and hopeful quitters are counting on someone like him.

godhelpus Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 10:26pm

Hey Mikey, you are back? How is life at the PR firm? So to you, Sheppard is an imbecile? Okay maybe so… but he wasn’t born into wealth like your buddy Michael was and maybe that is why he made it to law school and Harvard? But in your world everyone has the same shot in the game right? I wanna know if Bryant was drinking that night? I want to know what happened before they stopped at the intersection? I want to know why Bryant didn’t just go away and leave the scene instead of pushing Sheppard? I wanna know how many people Sheppard actually harassed that day? I only saw one vehicle but the media claims there was a number of others. I wanna know why it was a fellow lawyer that took the photo they offered up today as evidence?

godhelpus Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 10:22pm

I wonder if this was really a coincidental meeting as suggested in the story? Only liberals would vote for Bryant now. Also he has strong support among the tribe it appears. Many people though will always see him as spoiled and out of touch with the rest of us.

BB Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 10:14pm

Although Darcy Allan Sheppard had no violent record and has only been accused and not convicted of cheque fraud, many in the media have portrayed him as someone who may be violent. He had no history of violence and no record of violence –none.
Much of Sheppard’s portrayal is driven by Bryant’s PR efforts with Brian Mulroney’s favourite spinners – Navigator Ltd.
http://bryantwatch.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/what-if-navigator-was-working-for-sheppardwhat-if-navigator-was-working-for-darcy-allan-sheppard-instead-of-michael-bryant/

Looks like the little scumbags from the PR firm is making the rounds here.
Bryant is a murder end of story.

bluebomber Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 10:06pm

He’s a murder and the absolute minimum he should of been charged with is leaving the scene. Our Criminal justice system is just that. Criminally corrupt. With the likes of Jaffer & Bryant & Mulroney just to name a few….the average joe would be behind bars today.

AL Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:59pm

I’ve read most of the newpaper articles (front page) which came out today.

This issue is greater than just an incident between a cyclist and a motorist.

Is it me or there seems to be a bias portrayal of the victim (this person died from a senseless incident) in which the media made it looked like he deserved to die. Its sad to see what so called jounalism has become of late.

To me, this was a senseless incident and both of them acted in a senseless manner, therefore they in my opinion were equally wrong. As a result of the dismissal of all charges, it seems that any act can somehow be justified.

No one deserves to die.

Mikey Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:51pm

Not that it matters, as the charges were dropped, but Sheppard was a drunk, a drug addict and an imbecile who was involved with previous altercations with other drivers.

Michael Bryant did the only sensible thing when Sheppard confronted him with possible intentions to harm him, and drove away! I would have done the same thing!
Sheppard had a death wish for the longest time and it’s too bad he chose Michael Bryant to antagonize that night!
Had Sheppard approached a Black man’s car, he would have most likely have been shot!!

Bottom line is, Sheppard was his own worst enemy and had he not been drunk that night, he would still be alive today!
End of story!!

 

GG Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:36pm

Well if he runs again he can count on zero votes from the greenies and the hipster bike people!

Whats done is done, charges dropped, tragic end to the life of Darcy who had a pretty messed up life anyway. I saw the youtube footage, it all happened pretty fast, I suppose if some crazy guy was attacking me I would try to get out of there as well.

slappy Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:33pm

as much as the cops and lawyers want ot stress that bryant got no special treatment, well they are full of shit, of course he was handled with kit gloves, they made sheppard out to be the bad guy even though bryant murdered him. bryant used the hydrant to remove sheppard from his car, fully knowing it would cause grevious injury or death. dead people cant tell thier side of the story. even though every tool at the legal system was used to protect bryant, he will always be a murderer, a stinking slime of a monster who took another life. bryant is a political elite, who thinks himself above the peasents.

Mike Winner Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:32pm

Time for bike couriers to have mandatory drug and alchol testing done on a regular basis. Most cyclists are pretty good and in fact, there have been very very few incidents on the roads between cars and cyclists(as most car drivers are courteous.)

However, before the holier than thou bike crowd starts throwing stones, they had better be prepared for a compelte crackdown by the police on drunken stoned bike riders.

I suspect that even had Bryant gone to a jury trial and been acquitted the same bunch of bikers would be screaming injustice.

Shannon from Ottawa Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:32pm

In a word..NO!! He did the crime..now he needs to do the time. If this was someone who wasn’t in the spotlight, they would’ve been in jail long ago!!

Worrynot Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:26pm

Let’s not forget this is the same person responsible for killing hundreds of innocent puppies(no joke: he started the pitbull law). He belongs in jail.

Nick Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:26pm

I feel the same as from the first report of the incident. I would have done the same if attacked and have done similar (but lesser) as needed. I respect cyclists on the road, and only on the road. I disrepect and will defend against violent and ill-mannered motorists (including bus drivers), cyclists, motorcyclists, skatebarders, handicapped scooter drivers, and pedestrians. We all need to calm down especially biased cyclists, and realize self preservation is king. Can never be a valid law against it. The Criminal Code allows it, as it must, to the point of stopping the threat or attack. Read it!It’s too bad the cyclist was out of his sanity. Lucky he was not attacking a cop, he might have been shot.

Richard Rogers Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:25pm

ratchet Report CommentMay 26th 2010, 8:57pm
paul c. ass wipe
—————————————————————————————————————————-
Hey ratchet, leave buddy alone.

He’s probably just a brain-dead bike courier.

Brent from hijacked scarborough Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:23pm

bike riders should be very scared when they see Bryant behind the wheel again…We have hit a new low with this bullshit

Gill Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:20pm

If some drunk tried to climb in my car I’d run him over too. Not happy at all that the guy is dead, but our society is so concerned with the duty of care we have towards others. Can’t serve coffee hot in case idiots burn themselves

What about the duty of care we have towards ourselves? To NOT to get blind drunk and start fights with people lest we be hurt or killed.

It is a duty to ourselves to protect our own safety and the safety of our spouse when presented with a dangerous situation that is not of our making.

I believe if it was anyone OTHER than Bryant they probably wouldn’t be charged. Not with the footage of this guy starting shit all day long. The cyclist had a tragic life with a tragic end.

STOP POINTING THE FINGER IT’S OVER

Charles Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:16pm

I understand a drunk may be intoxicated and attacked you. But using a car to speed away to spin Sheppard off and caused his death is also a deliberate attempt to cause harm. I would not say it is murder. But Mr. Bryant is partially responsible for Sheppard’s death and Bryant’s future in politics may be tarnished forever !!

common folk Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:12pm

Check out the video footage on Youtube. Bryant deliberately runs him over! If it was any one of us we would be sitting in a deep dark cell.

Floyd Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:10pm

Mr Bryant should be charged with murder

Christine Massey Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 9:10pm

He makes me sick.

And the Sun photographer just happened to run into him? How strangely convenient for Bryant… so we can all see how he is ‘getting back in stride.’

If I were him I’d be wishing for eyes in the back of my head!

ratchet Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 8:57pm

paul c. ass wipe

Paul C Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 8:55pm

Murderer!

taxpayer Report Comment

May 26th 2010, 8:42pm

He did what anyone in his situation would do – he panicked when attacked by a drunk cyclist who tried to climb into his car while he was out with his wife.

So I sympathize with him in many ways. Having said that, this is the same assclown responsible for the bogus street racing law. I hate street racing and I hate the people who do it. But you CANNOT abandon the principles on which the system is based because you want to look like a gunslinging hero. Guilty without due process and you get your car crushed?? First one is a travesty, second one involves personal property. Try that shit in Texas and see how far you get. So, on the whole, fuck Bryant and let him spend a few more days in the clink to see what it’s like on the other side.