The trial date of Chief Wallace Fox of Onion Lake Cree Nation has been moved.
Fox’s case was scheduled to be tried in court on June 29, 2016. Fox remains facing two counts of assault, one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose related to the use of a knife, and one count of uttering threats to damage property. None of the charges have been tried in court.
Fox received the June trial date back in January, on the third appearance of the case in court.
On Wednesday, 106.1 The Goat received a tip about the change in the trial date, and subsequent calls made to the Saskatchewan court in Lloydminster and the Crown Prosecution office in North Battleford have confirmed the change. The trial will now be taking place on October 4, 2016, in the upper courtroom of the Saskatchewan court in Lloydminster.
According to Regional Crown Prosecutor Scott Bartlett, who is based out of North Battleford, the date change came about as request from the defense counsel, due to a scheduling conflict. The move was made with the consent of the Crown, and was brought forward to the court on June 2, 2016, according to Bartlett.
“(There’s) no guarantees that it can be moved again, but it’s unlikely,” said Bartlett.
Bartlett also said the Crown prosecutor who had been handling the case, Tanner Daniels, is leaving the office as of June 30, 2016, and the file will be re-assigned to another prosecutor.