Stanley firearm storage charges adjourned to March

Jun 26, 2017 | 6:00 PM

Additional charges against Gerald Stanley, 55 of two counts of unsafe storage of a firearm were heard today in North Battleford provincial court, but have been adjourned until next year. The charges were laid August 9, 2016,

Stanley was not present in court, but his lawyer Scott Spencer appeared via a telephone conference call on his behalf, with Judge Bruce Bauer presiding and Crown attorney Chris Browne attending. 

Spencer said the firearm storage charges, under the Firearms Act, will be addressed after Stanley’s separate more serious charge is dealt with.

Stanley still needs to enter a plea related to the firearm storage charges. His matter has been adjourned to March 19, 2018, in North Battleford Provincial Court. 

Queen’s Bench trial still to be set

Gerald Stanley is also facing a separate charge of second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie, of Red Pheasant Cree Nation. 

Boushie was shot and killed on Stanley’s Biggar farm yard on August 9, 2016. 

A trial date at the Court of Queen’s Bench in the Town of Battleford still needs to be set. A date hasn’t been determined when Stanley will return to court on this matter.

Following a preliminary hearing at N.B. provincial court that concluded on April 6 2017, Judge Bruce Bauer determined there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Colten Boushie’s mother Debbie Baptiste stood outside the N.B. Provincial Court House on Monday, June 26 holding a picture of her son Colten Boushie. 

She said only that she would like to see justice done.

Baptiste hopes to have an out-of-province prosecuting attorney to handle the second-degree murder trial when it commences. 

“North Battleford is a pretty racial place for any native to try to get justice. Justice is not being served here in North Battleford at all,” she said.

We’re still fighting. It’s going to be a battle. You never know. This might turn around in our favour. I want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody else.”

Baptiste said August 9, 2017, will mark one year since her son Colten was fatally shot. 

The allegations have not be proven in court.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW