No state-funded counsel for break-in suspect
Arthur Fernando Rocha, 55, of Fredericton, will have to represent himself at 2026 jury trial
A Fredericton man denied legal aid due to his insistence on a jury trial in superior court lost his bid to get a judge to order the province to pay for defence counsel Wednesday.
Arthur Fernando Rocha, 55, of Woodstock Road, faces a Dec. 12 count of break and enter into a Minto business, as well as March 16 counts of break, enter and theft at St. James Presbyterian Church in Hanwell, assault and assault with a weapon (a crowbar) on an RCMP officer, resisting arrest and possession of break-in instruments
The defendant was denied bail earlier this year and has remained in custody since his March 16 arrest.
He appeared before Court of King’s Bench Justice Richard Petrie at the Burton Courthouse on Wednesday for two proceedings: a detention review and a Rowbotham hearing.