Colin Wheeler will be the subject of an administrative bail review in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook later this month.
Wheeler, who is from Benoit’s Cove, was charged on Oct. 21, 2017 with assault, assault with a weapon and two counts of mischief following an incident at a residence in the town. He was denied bail a few days later and remanded to Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s.
In November, he was charged with two counts of failing to comply with the condition that he have no contact with two women who are listed in the court information as the victims of his alleged crimes.
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Wheeler, who currently is representing himself, appeared via videoconference in the Supreme Court on Monday to be arraigned on the charges.
Wheeler entered not guilty pleas after each of the charges was read to him.
The charges — four from the October incident and the two from November — had been listed on two separate indictments, but both Wheeler and Crown attorney Lori St. Croix agreed to have them joined so as to have one trial.
The trial was set for Oct. 16 and 17, which would be just a few days shy of one year since the charges were laid.
A pre-trial conference in the matter was set for June 6.
Wheeler was informed of the bail review during his appearance. The review is at the request of the penitentiary.
Murphy explained that after a person has been in custody for 90 days then the institution must bring an application to the court asking a judge to look at whether or not the accused should be released from custody.
The judge can also order an earlier trial date.
In the meantime, Murphy told Wheeler that he would ask the Crown and court to check to see if any dates can be freed up between now and June for a trial.
The administrative bail review will take place on March 14.
The victim of the alleged assault, Wheeler’s girlfriend, was in the court and she made several attempts to intervene in the proceedings. When given an opportunity to speak she told Murphy that she had no say in the no contact order that had been imposed and wanted to have that changed.
Murphy told her that if she was wondering what her rights are that she should contact a lawyer.
He also advised Wheeler, who earlier in the appearance said he would be hiring a private lawyer and later that he would be getting a lawyer from legal aid, that he should do the same.
