Family supports alleged Terror Squad member at bail hearing

Cst. Gobeil was called as a witness to speak about weeks of surveillance by the team before the arrests were made.

A bail hearing is not required to show proof in the way a trial is, which allowed Verkerk to use “hearsay” to talk about Lafonde's gang affiliations and introducing evidence through hearsay.

Gobeil testified based on intelligence reports about gang affiliations, describing Lafonde as a Terror Squad member.

According to Verkerk, “TS” was painted on the wall near the room he was staying in at a friend’s home.

The bedroom and the safes in it containing the cocaine were not Lafonde’s, according to his defence counsel, Estelle Hjertaas. She stated he didn’t reside there, however Gobeil said weeks of surveillance by the CFSEU countered that.

Hjertaas also said the safe’s combination, which was written down in Lafonde’s wallet, had been forgotten there.

The court heard that Lafonde admits he was a member of the Terror Squad two years ago, but left and was beaten up for making that choice.

Countering that, Gobeil said “Lafonde is viewed as a current member of the Terror Squad” with a high rank, according to police intelligence gained through Crime Stoppers, previous investigations and source information.

According to Gobeil, Lafonde’s role is to package and distribute drugs to “underlings” who would in turn sell them and bring back the profits.

The court was provided with a letter from the co-accused boy, in which he took full responsibility for the drugs and gun at a specific address. However, those items were found in separate homes, something the owner should know, defence argued. Hjertaas said the teen is the nephew of Lafonde’s ex-girlfriend.

Gobeil was asked if he’d seen lower level gang members accept responsibility after senior members who are arrested. He said yes, and one of the benefits is as a youth and with less of a criminal record the sentence is lower for the lower ranking members.

Hjertaas’ bail request included two homes as an option for Lafonde to stay in under strict conditions. One is his grandparent’s, the other, a friend’s home.

The request included a letter from an employer, the father or father-in-law of Lafonde’s friend. The letter stated Lafonde had worked there on a casual basis during the summer and would be welcome to work with them again in the fall.

Verkerk said she didn’t see the drywall job as a “true job” because the person writing it was a friend’s family member. Instead, it seemed like a letter written out of convenience in advance of the bail hearing.

Lafonde’s friend was also willing to put forward a bail of $1,200.

Gobeil stated the Terror Squad is an organized group that holds regular meetings and its main activity is drug dealing.

He added gangs entail violence, sometimes to use violence to get drugs from someone else to re-sell. This activity most commonly leads to home invasions.

Although Lafonde has not been convicted of any break and enters, he was charged with one and ended up pleading guilty to a lesser offence.

Gobeil also said he’s observed several short-duration meets between Lafonde and people known to deal prescriptions. Verkerk said that included morphine.

Lafonde, an Ahtakakoop band member, chatted occasionally with guards as he sat in the prisoner’s box during his Monday bail hearing.

The judge ordered a bail verification report before adjourning the bail hearing until the following Monday. Lafonde will remain in custody until then.

claskowsk@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk

by Chelsea Laskowski

Family supports alleged Terror Squad member at bail hearing

What's Trending