Former Leafs Captain Stands Trial In Blackhawk Keith Magnuson’s Death
Posted September 17, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rob Ramage is set to stand trial Monday charged with five criminal offences in a deadly car crash that killed another former NHL player.
Almost four years have elapsed since the deadly crash in Woodbridge claimed the life of retired Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Keith Magnuson on Dec. 15, 2003.
The 48-year-old Ramage is alleged to have been impaired and driving dangerously when the car he was operating crashed, though last Tuesday he pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment in Newmarket.
Magnuson, 56, was travelling with Ramage and was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman in another vehicle involved in the incident, 39-year-old Michelle Pacheco, was injured.
Ramage donned the “C” for the Buds from 1989-1991, and is charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, two counts of dangerous driving causing death and having blood alcohol over the legal limit.
He faces a jury trial scheduled for three weeks and it’s believed York Crown attorney Paul Tait could call a potential 35 witnesses in the case. In his opening statement Monday, Tait promised the jury would see video of Ramage buying alcohol prior to the crash and hear from a police officer at the scene that says the former Leaf didn’t know who his passenger was and repeatedly asked, “How’s Gary ?”
At the time of the crash, it’s alleged the two players were en route to an alumni meeting in a rental car. Eerily, they were coming from the funeral reception of another former player, Keith McCreary, who died at the age of 63.
Magnuson was born in Saskatoon and played 11 seasons in Chicago, suiting up in 589 games, while Ramage also enjoyed a lengthy career that stretched from 1979 until 1994.
