By JIM BUTLER

The latest trial date for David Westmoreland, accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist almost four years ago is the week of March 17.  

The state claims the retired state trooper, a parish probation officer at the time, was intoxicated when striking and killing Donnie Cayer on Horseshoe Drive on May 1, 2021.

Westmoreland, 60 when arrested, is charged with vehicular homicide and hit and run. He was indicted in May 2022.

Because of his district court employment all judges of the Ninth District recused themselves from Westmoreland’s case, adding to the normal delays in the judicial process.

According to the record, Westmoreland returned to the scene a short while after the collision. 

There are eight other jury trials on the same week’s docket, among 80 cases up for trial, pre-trial matters, sentencing or arraignment.