A trial date of 4 June 2015 has been set for the Rt. Rev. Heather Cook, Suffragan Bishop of Maryland to answer charges of manslaughter before the Baltimore City Circuit Court. On 2 April 2015 attorneys for Bishop Cook accepted the trial date, effectively offering a plea of not guilty to the charges that on 27 Dec 2015 Bishop Cook struck and killed cyclist Thomas Palermo with her car. Prosecutors allege the bishop was intoxicated while drive the car, and was texting when she struck Palermo, and fled the scene. The bishop did not speak following her arraignment and remains free on a $2.5 million bond. Five members of Mr. Palermo’s family attended the hearing, and afterwards told Baltimore radio station WBAL they wished to see justice done.
