Preliminary inquiry dates set in road-ramming case

A preliminary inquiry for a 59-year-old man charged after a road-ramming incident in July has been scheduled for March 1-3, 2010.
Robert Samuel (Sam) Noseworthy was allegedly drunk when he rammed a woman's car off the road July 11 on the Trans-Canada Highway near Gushue's Pond Park. The woman's car flipped several times before landing in a ditch. She was taken to Carbonear hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Noseworthy is facing three charges including driving while disqualified, impaired driving causing bodily harm and failing the breathalyzer.
He has a long history of driving drunk. His extensive criminal record contains dozens of convictions, including 11 for impaired driving and one prior conviction for driving while disqualified.
He was also convicted of criminal negligence causing death in 1984 and received a 2 1/2-year jail term.
In 2003, he got 3 1/2 years behind bars for impaired-related and driving-related offences and was prohibited from ever driving again.
The preliminary inquiry will determine if sufficient evidence exists to send the case onto the trial stage in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court.