Panhandling or robbery?
Robert (Robbie) Keith MacDonald, 48, of no fixed address, begged for money from woman downtown Feb. 11, court hears, and when she refused, he struck her car, pulled out knife
A woman testified a well-known panhandler menaced her with a knife after she declined to give him any money earlier this year, but the defence argued the defendant was just begging as usual.
Robert (Robbie) Keith MacDonald, 48, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in person and in custody Monday for trial on a charge of using threats of violence in an attempt to steal from Krista Ryan on Feb. 11, and a related count of breach of probation.
MacDonald has loudly professed his innocence of the allegations at numerous court appearances since his arrest.
The Crown’s case consisted mainly of the evidence of Krista Ryan, who testified she was at a Fredericton Tim Hortons location in her car at about 11 a.m. on the date in question.