Colin Percy Wheeler stormed out of his court appearance in frustration after representing himself via video from jail Tuesday.
The 35-year-old man from Benoit’s Cove with a violent criminal history had initially showed up shirtless in the video link from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s and provincial court in Corner Brook.
When told he would require a shirt to appear before a judge, Wheeler became belligerent and directed an insult at the Crown, saying there was no case against him.
The video feed was temporarily discontinued as the court was called into session and other matters dealt with. When Wheeler was brought back before Judge Kymil Howe, he was more appropriately attired.
Wheeler, who has prior convictions for armed robbery and aggravated assault, has been charged with assault, assault with a weapon, uttering threats to police to cause bodily harm and two counts of mischief. The charges stem from incidents alleged to have taken place in Benoit’s Cove Oct. 21.
Wheeler told Howe he would be representing himself and that he was going to elect trial by judge alone in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. He also indicated he wished to exercise his right to a preliminary inquiry, a hearing that weighs evidence and determines if someone should be committed to stand trial.
Wheeler became frustrated when Howe began pressing him on the process he needed to follow to prepare for a preliminary inquiry, including a list of witnesses and issues to be argued.
Wheeler said he didn’t plan to call any witnesses and said none of the Crown’s witnesses would show up anyway and that the case against him would crumble.
Howe reiterated there is a legal process to be followed before the preliminary inquiry could be held.
“F*** the f***ing prelim,” Wheeler said, moments before getting up and making his way back to his prison cell.
Howe then indicated the next court date for this matter will be Nov. 21.
“Not for me, it won’t,” Wheeler said in response to the next scheduled court appearance as he left.
