On a day dedicated to widespread tomfoolery, Surrey’s mayor will be in a provincial court this Halloween trying to distance himself from one specific act of alleged public mischief.

As he defends himself against an accusation of lying about being struck by a car driven by a political opponent, Doug McCallum will don a costume unfamiliar to citizens who voted him out of office earlier this month: criminal defendant.

But will a trick or treat await the 78-year-old?

That depends on the outcome of a seven-day trial set to begin this morning.

A disputed parking-lot encounter

McCallum was charged with one count of public mischief last