Christy Simaganid and David Linklater will face trial Feb. 18. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Accused in weapons bust case granted trial date, after four month delay

Dec 9, 2020 | 12:00 PM

A court case surrounding a weapons bust in Prince Albert last spring has now cleared a major hurdle, and will proceed to trial.

Christy Simaganis, David Linklater and David Ross were jointly charged in connection to the incident in April. Two large machetes and a sawed off shotgun were among the weapons found in the vehicle stopped by police, as well as a can of bear spray and a black and white bandana.

Back in July, Simaganis and Linklater both entered not guilty pleas. Ross however, was absent from court and had a warrant for his arrest. The Crown originally hoped to proceed with a trial for all three at once and was unwilling to sever the files to have multiple trials.

Prosecutor Andreanne Dube explained the Crown’s reasoning at a hearing a month later.

“These matters are quite serious and will take a lot of resources to run the trial once, let alone possibly twice,” she said.

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On Nov. 2, a severance hearing was held and the judge essentially agreed Simaganis and Linklater should have the opportunity to face trial. The date was set for Feb. 18, 2021.

Ross remains unaccounted for on bench warrant status.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell