Fredericton man admits to stabbing
Bradley Anthony Reid, 31, originally charged with aggravated assault but pleaded guilty Thursday to lesser, included offence of assault causing bodily harm to Wilbur Elliott
A Fredericton man scheduled to stand trial for three days for a stabbing incident early this year opted Thursday instead to admit to the assault.
Bradley Anthony Reid, 31, of Douglas Avenue, previously elected to be tried in provincial court and pleaded not guilty to Feb. 21 counts of committing an aggravated assault on Wilbur Elliott and breaching a probation order.
He was back in court in person and in custody Thursday for his scheduled trial, but court heard Crown and defence counsel had resolved the matter.
Defence lawyer Ron Morris said his client was maintaining his not-guilty plea on the aggravated assault but was offering a guilty plea to the lesser, included crime of assault causing bodily harm to Elliott.
Reid also changed his plea to guilty on the probation violation.
Crown prosecutor Gwynne Hearn asked the court to order a victim-impact statement.
Morris said a pre-sentence report on his client was necessary, as a psychiatric-assessment report filed with the court earlier in the proceedings would suffice as background on the offender.
Judge Natalie LeBlanc set the sentencing hearing over to Nov. 16, and she remanded Reid again until that time.
Fredericton Police Force officers arrested Reid the afternoon of Feb. 21 after Elliott was reportedly stabbed, but that arrest only took place after a standoff with police on the city’s north side that dragged on for several hours.
Numerous city police officers - including members with the emergency response team and a crisis negotiator - cordoned off a Hillcourt Drive home the morning of Feb. 21, as Reid was inside, having barricaded himself inside.
People were advised to stay away from the area for several hours, and that ended only after Reid surrendered peacefully.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.