Former councillor charged with attempted murder
Hemmings accused of trying to run over wife
MULGRAVE - Former Mulgrave town councillor William (Bill) Edward Hemmings Jr., 61, has been charged with attempted murder following an incident Saturday night in which someone driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan tried to run over Hemming's wife near the bottom of the couple's driveway in Mulgrave.
The RCMP happened to be in the right place at the right time to respond to the incident. Sgt. Bruno Deveau of the Port Hawkesbury RCMP detachment said an RCMP cruiser was already in Mulgrave at the time, on regular patrol.
"The officer on patrol was flagged down by a friend of the victim who had picked up the victim," Sgt. Deveau told The Journal. He said the friend happened to stop to chat to the victim outside the Hemmings' home when she witnessed the alleged attack, around 10:30 p.m.
RCMP arrested Hemmings the next morning on Highway 344, the highway leading into Mulgrave from the Trans Canada. Sgt. Deveau said police had information that the suspect was headed that way. Hemmings was arrested without incident.
He appeared in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Monday. Hemmings is charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, dangerous driving, uttering death threats and unsafe storage of firearm. Sgt. Deveau said the firearm charge is not related to Saturday night's incident. He said that to his knowledge police had not been called to the couple's address in the past in relation to any kind of domestic dispute.
Hemmings was released on conditions and the case adjourned for election and plea on Jan. 30.
