Bilijk man now accused of trying to kill 15 cops
RCMP lays new charges accusing Michael Christopher Sabattis, 34, of additional counts of attempted murder, discharging firearm at police with intent to wound/maim them April 15
Much to the surprise of the defence, the RCMP laid a new information against a Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation man Friday, replacing a single count of attempted murder of three Mounties with 15 counts.
Michael Christopher Sabattis, 34, of Tomahawk Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in person and in custody Friday, scheduled to elect mode of trial on five indictable charges.
He was accused of attempting to murder of RCMP Const. Nicholas Gilfillan, Cpl. Jeremy Hardy and Const. Pierre-Alexandre Roy by shooting a firearm at them; discharging a firearm with the intent to wound, maim or otherwise endanger them; assaulting Brian Sabattis and thereby wounding him or endangering his life; assaulting Tammy Sabattis; and uttering threats to RCMP officers to cause them death and/or bodily harm.
The charges stem from a dangerous standoff at a Bilijk First Nation home the afternoon and evening of April 15 during which the RCMP reported that officers, including members of the emergency response team, were fired upon.