The Prince George trial for a Dawson Creek charged with second-degree murder was adjourned before it could start on Aug. 5 after he fired his two lawyers during the BC Day long weekend.
Braidan Josie Meck, 31, is accused of fatally stabbing Devon Myles Lindstrom, 28, on June 11, 2022 in a Queensway motel.
The trial had been scheduled for 10 days in BC Supreme Court. Defence lawyer Tony Lagemaat told Justice Carla Forth that Meck had informed him of the decision late in the day Saturday. No reason was mentioned in court.
Crown prosecutor Robert Climie said he was ready to proceed with the case against Meck, but Forth adjourned the matter to Aug. 25 to allow Meck time to find a new lawyer. Then new trial dates will be sought.
“We're not going to allow this thing to be delayed on a lengthy basis,” Forth said to Meck. “I am the trial judge, so we will facilitate getting a new trial date fairly quickly.”
Climie said “significant advances had been made” with Meck’s lawyers on admissions of fact in order to streamline the trial. However, Meck had yet to sign them and Climie expects Meck’s new lawyer will want to review them. If Meck does not sign the admissions, the trial could last as long as three weeks.
“So we're, in some ways, back to square one, regrettably,” Climie said.
