Stewart Brazeau was not shy on Thursday about speaking up in court. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Courtroom Drama

Distraught father appeals for judge to make matters right

Oct 24, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The sound of a pin dropping could have been heard Thursday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court, when an emotionally charged father stood up and spoke to the judge.

Stewart Brazeau’s daughter Sarah Raye Lafontaine faces two counts of assaulting a peace officer, and one count of failure to comply with a court order. The incident happened in Sept. 2018, at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre, and a trial date has now been set for Nov. 22.

“You guys are doing a crooked business,” Brazeau shouted at Judge Felicia Daunt, claiming his daughter never had an opportunity to appeal her case.

Lafontaine who has chosen to represent herself on the latest charges, was in custody at the time of the alleged incidents on an unrelated matter from Saskatoon. Brazeau continued to talk to the judge and claimed he was not allowed to call his daughter.

“I have no control over that,” Judge Felicia Daunt replied calmly, assuring Brazeau that the matter was being dealt with by setting a trial date.

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Outside court, Brazeau told paNOW he was very frustrated with the process, and claimed his daughter was being treated unfairly.

“No phone calls, no direction, no help from any of the outside people in Prince Albert or Saskatoon,” he said.

Brazeau explained one of his biggest frustrations was not being able to speak to his daughter over the phone. He claimed on one occasion a correctional officer told him “maybe she doesnt want to talk to you.”

“I visited her, and I left her money because she wanted to phone me, and then I get home, waited for my phone call and received no phone call all month,” he said, adding he had received close to 30 calls from the correctional centre, but when he picks up, the line goes dead.

Brazeau said he was happy to hear a trial date had been set.

According to information obtained by paNOW from Saskatoon Provincial Court, Lafontaine was previously sentenced on Aug. 21, 2019, on charges of robbery, assault, and two court breaches. She received a sentence totalling 1,095 days but was given credit for 711 days spent in remand. She was also given a lifetime ban from possessing or owning firearms.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell