So again, what does your fantasy scenario have to do with what happened here?

Why not put the car in park and punch Sheppard in the nose when, after slamming his backpack on the cars hood, he came around to the driver's side door to confront Bryant the driver? Or even better, why not say 'I'm sorry' and if need be, get out and try talk with the likely upset Sheppard? It's amazing what those two words can often do to diffuse even the most tense situations.

Bryant wasn't 70 years old. He was 43, and near as can be told from the pics that have been published...in good physical shape.

It's to look at videos with dial-up, but I checked out the video accessible with the link in comment #66. It looks as though Sheppard, aside from acknowledging his presence, didn't initially pay Bryant any mind. Sheppard, seeing Bryant's car waiting at a red light, zipped around the driver's side of Bryant's car to a position front of the car...a position that looks to be about five to six feet from the front of the vehicle...and also wait for the red light.

Light goes green: it looks as though Bryant then quickly hit the gas and banged into Sheppard, knocking him over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFISP_PrhFo

"Sheppard was arrested, let out on bail and never showed for his July 2003 court appearance. Five more warrants were added to the pile. Edmonton cops would never catch up with him." 'A troubled past' Tamara Cherry/Toronto Sun, Sept 3rd

I wonder if those warrants were still out for Sheppard on the night of his death, and if so, whether Toronto Police were aware of them.

About whether police were aware that Sheppard was going to ride the bike home; Drawing from the article PoPo mentions in his comment, I can see room for uncertainty about that.

The Globe news article that describes what was seen on a security camera is much more reliable (which I quoted).

As to assehole drivers, I agree totally.

What is Road Rage?: http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2009/07/23/what-is-road-rage/

How Should Your Respond to Road Rage?: http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2009/07/30/how-should-you-respond-to-road-rage/

"Earlier eyewitness accounts describe an angry clash between Mr. Bryant and Mr. Sheppard – a toot of the horn and a shout to get moving from Mr. Bryant; a refusal and perhaps an answering shout from Mr. Sheppard; Mr. Bryant edging his convertible closer, and by one account, actually hitting Mr. Sheppard's bike, whereupon Mr. Sheppard allegedly left his bike and marched over and reached into the offending open car."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/bryants-story-shocking-sobering-far-too-common/article1272593/

I think the Toronto Sun is right-- this incident has to be tried in court. But they can't have it both ways and at the same time attempt to stir up sympathy for the defendant with a one-sided whitewash of the defendant's own actions.

Plus, it doesn't look like the altercation started with the driver impatiently hitting the bike. In fact, the bike was passing the car when it happened. The Globe & Mail said, "security camera footage shows Mr. Sheppard on his bike, pulling up around the driver’s side of Mr. Bryant’s car on Bloor Street, just east of Avenue Road in front of United Colors of Benetton. The strip of Bloor Street was under construction that night, leaving only one lane in each direction. Mr. Sheppard gestured at the car and got off his bike when the car struck its back tire. Witness Raajiv Rajadurai, 23, said the accident didn’t look serious, but the cyclist seemed agitated."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/a-cyclist-dead-a-political-star-tarnished/article1271489/

Right now, that stretch of Bloor is a real mess: not just very narrow lanes, but also very bumpy.

Here's something I haven't so far read an explanation for that I'd like to know about: What business did Bryant have rolling up and bumping Sheppard's bike tire with his car? Maybe Bryant will come up with some completely reasonable explanation for doing so. Tough luck for him if he can't reasonably deny the act was simply what it appears at to be at present...something really stupid to do.

I've heard that people have commented that Sheppard got what he deserved. Maybe Bryant did too. If Bryant honked his horn and bumped Sheppard's wheel with his car...harassing him...I can understand Sheppard being fed up and deciding to take action on his own...throwing the backpack on the hood of Bryant's car...walking over to put his hands on Bryants' car or person.

Here on bikeportland, we hear these 'street justice' scenarios from time to time; an upset person on a bike harassed by a motorist vows the next time to jerk the offending driver out of his car and beat the #%$$@ out of him. It sounds like that's what was going to happen to Bryant until he 'one-upped' Sheppard. So much for his shot at redemption.

People with aggressive personalities that have not sufficiently learned how to control them so as to be competent road users.

Based on information available to the public right now, I wouldn't be prepared to let either the good AG or the badass off duty bike messenger off the hook.