Court briefs
Drug raid injury investigators in town
Member of the public claims injuries sutained during police operation
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 18, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two officers with the Medicine Hat Police Service were in Yellowknife last week investigating the RCMP over alleged injuries during the Dec. 6 raids on drug dens.
One person, described as a "member of the public," is said to have been injured as a result of the raids.
Staff Sgt. Brian Christmann, with the Medicine Hat Police Service, stated in a news release that RCMP did not come into contact with the injured person during the raids.
Police said they believe the person was hurt then left the area during the raids.
Christmann said several interviews have been conducted with members of the RCMP, the public and the person injured.
The investigation is still ongoing, and police refuse to release additional information until the matter is concluded.
RCMP requested the Medicine Hat Police Service to conduct the investigation in the interest of transparency, adding no public complaint was made with regards to the incident.
Gang suspect in court
One of the 11 suspects arrested in a series of drug-den raids on Dec. 6 appeared in court Monday. Cody Stuiver, 19, sat behind the glass-enclosed prisoner dock in an orange shirt, smirking as his matter was dealt with in court.
Stuiver, originally from Aldergrove, B.C., is charged with trafficking crack-cocaine and marijuana.
RCMP say he's connected to the '856' gang based out of the B.C. town.
Defence lawyer Gary Wool asked that Stuiver's matter be pushed to yesterday afternoon, when he'd likely appear via video. Stuiver is behind bars on remand.
Another of the 11 accused, Christopher Mathers, was set to appear in court yesterday as well. He's charged with three firearms offences, money laundering, drug trafficking and drug possession.
Accused Ndilo stabber to ask for changes to bail
The 17-year-old teen charged with murder in the stabbing death of Daniel Faine in September is set to ask for changes to her bail.
The accused can not be named as her identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
On Monday, defence lawyer Nikolaus Homberg asked the court to adjourn the teen's matter until this morning, when he'll make an application for a bail variance.
He told Yellowknifer he's looking to make changes to her bail conditions.
The teen was released on Sept. 18 by Judge Garth Malakoe.
She has 20 conditions to her release, including a $5,000 bail to be paid if she breaks any of them.
Her father, who attended court Monday, is in charge of ensuring she follows the conditions.
Homberg told the courts Monday he's still waiting for disclosure from the Crown on the teen's case.
A pre-trial date has yet to be set.
City-hired construction company to plead on safety charges
An Ontario-based construction company set to build Yellowknife's new water treatment plant is preparing to make its plea on safety charges from May 2012.
North American Construction (1993) Limited (NAC), as well as two of its employees, face 14 charges against the Safety Act and Safety Regulations.
The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission laid the charges after an NAC employee was seriously injured in a fall at the NWT Power Corporation Bluefish Hydro site on May 6, 2012. The commission alleges the company failed to ensure scaffolding was properly built and maintained at the hydro site.
City council voted to award the company a $30-million-plus contract to build Yellowknife's new water treatment plant on July 22. The company was the lowest bidder after the city held an invitation to tender.
On Monday, defence counsel for the company told the courts it just received large amounts of disclosure on the matter and need time to review it before entering a plea.
Judge Bernadette Schmaltz adjourned the case until Feb. 4, when the company said it'll be ready to make a plea.
