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Thomas Whittle has been given a couple more days to get his legal representation in order.
Dates had been set aside this week to hear a preliminary inquiry into the charges against the 28-year-old man from Conception Bay South in relation to a fatal snowmobile accident near Humber Valley Resort in February 2017.
Justyn Pollard, 21, was a passenger on the snowmobile allegedly driven by Whittle and died as a result of injuries sustained when the machine collided with a taxi.
In late January, provincial court in Corner Brook was notified that Whittle’s legal counsel was withdrawing from representing him and that he would be seeking legal aid.
The Crown and its witnesses were ready to proceed with starting the inquiry Tuesday morning but there was no defence lawyer present. Whittle, who was supposed to appear in person for the inquiry, appeared via telephone and indicated he had transportation issues and couldn’t make it.
Whittle could not give a definitive answer about his legal representation and was told to have proof he is taking the appropriate measures to secure a lawyer by the time the matter is called again Thursday morning to set new dates for the preliminary inquiry.
