A former consultant of Black Spruce Exploration Corp. has had more criminal charges against him dismissed.
Christopher Pike, 61, is a resident of Howley, but currently works in the oil and gas industry in Western Canada.
He was charged with theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property and extortion in relation to a dispute he had with company over not being paid for the work he did for them.
It was alleged he took a computer and other equipment and items from the company’s Corner Brook office in the R.A. Pollett Building in October 2015.
Despite admitting he took the items, Pike pleaded not guilty to the charges and was committed to stand trial on the charges in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
A jury trial had been set for Nov. 14, however, the charges were dismissed during an appearance on Sept. 11.
Pike had a charge of uttering threats against Black Spruce director Ian Kennedy dismissed in January following a trial in provincial court in November 2016.
It had been alleged by Kennedy that Pike threatened to physically harm him and his family three times in September and October 2015.
In her decision, Judge Kymil Howe said she couldn’t put much credence in Kennedy’s evidence.
She said the way Kennedy described the threats used odd and stilted language and the allegations had an air of being contrived.
Pike is still in a civil dispute with the company over not being paid for the work he did.
He filed a statement of claim with the Supreme Court in March 2016 alleging a breach of contract. He estimates he was owed about $60,000 by the time he left the company at the end of October 2015. To date he has not received any of that money.
No date has been set in that matter. The company had indicated in April 2016 that it intended to file a counter claim.
