MARYLAND
The Baltimore Sun
By Kevin Rector
The Baltimore Sun
The trial of former Episcopal bishop Heather Cook has been delayed until September.
Former Episcopal bishop Heather Elizabeth Cook, charged in the December drunken-driving death of a popular bicyclist in Baltimore, doesn’t want to go through a “contested trial,” her attorney said Thursday.
“We would hope that we could resolve the case without trial for everyone’s sake,” including the family of 41-year-old bicyclist Thomas Palermo, David Irwin said outside Baltimore Circuit Court.
Irwin’s comments, which came shortly after a brief court proceeding in which Cook waived her right to a speedy trial and accepted a postponement until Sept. 9, were the first indication that Cook is considering accepting culpability in the case through a plea deal.
Irwin said he has made the “earliest of plea considerations,” but has only spoken “very, very briefly” with prosecutors on the matter.
Cook, 58, has pleaded not guilty to all 13 counts against her, including automobile manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident.
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