(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court delays

Delays in care home threats case as accused fires lawyer

Oct 23, 2019 | 2:00 PM

One of two men accused of threatening staff and residents at a Prince Albert long term care home is looking for a new lawyer.

Ramsay Halkett, 34, was scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court, but instead his legal aid lawyer Loretta Markowski informed the judge Halkett fired her.

On the morning of Sept. 29, it’s alleged two men went to the Herb Bassett home and made threating remarks. According to witnesses one of the men could be heard claiming they would kill everyone inside.

Markowski did not give a reason for her dismissal. When asked by Judge Felicia Daunt how he wanted to proceed Halkett, who appeared via video from the Prince Albert Correctional Centre, said he wanted a court-appointed lawyer. Daunt replied that was not an option, and informed Halkett he could either hire a private lawyer or request a new lawyer through legal aid because he was still eligible.

“Okay then yeah,” he replied, agreeing to get a new legal aid lawyer.

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When asked how much time he needed to get a lawyer, Halkett did not reply, sitting with his arms crossed in the back of the prisoner’s cell.

The case was adjourned to Thursday morning. The co-accused Ralph Henderson has also been scheduled to make his next court appearance on that day.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell