Teen robbery suspect no-show for court
Warrant issued for Bilijk First Nation boy charged after downtown Irving car crash
The teenage boy released from custody on conditions after he was charged with attempting to rob a downtown gas station was a no-show for his first non-custodial court appearance on related charges Tuesday.
The Fredericton Police Force charged two teenage boys from Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation last month after a stolen car smashed into glass entrance doors of the Irving station and Circle K convenience store at 181 King St. on Oct. 19.
The youths - ages 14 and 15 - can’t be named as their identities are protected by the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Both boys were charged with attempting to rob the business, possessing a stolen 2018 Mercedes C300 and masking their faces during the incident.
The 14-year-old faced separate but related charges of indictable assault, uttering threats to cause death and/or bodily harm and violation of a police undertaking, while the 15-year-old was charged individually with assault with a weapon (the Mercedes), dangerous driving, mischief causing damage to the gas station and a youth probation violation.
The Crown objected to the release of both suspects, and separate bail hearings were held for the boys Oct. 23.
The evidence presented at those hearings and the reasons for the judge’s decision in both are subject to bans on publication until the cases conclude.
Ultimately, the 14-year-old was released on conditions, while the older boy was remanded pending the outcome of his charges.
Among the conditions imposed on the 14-year-old were to remain under house arrest at his father’s home save for limited exceptions, to abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants, and to attend court as required.
The court directed the boy to return to Fredericton youth court Nov. 14, which was Tuesday.
But when Judge Natalie LeBlanc called the boy’s case Tuesday, he wasn’t present, and the judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
His co-accused, who remains in custody, appeared in youth court by telephone Wednesday afternoon, scheduled to enter pleas.
Defence lawyer Marine Polo told court Wednesday she hadn’t received disclosure of the Crown file yet, otherwise her client would have been prepared to enter pleas.
Judge Lucie Mathurin set that matter over to Dec. 20 for pleas.
The case against both teens stemmed from an early-morning incident at the downtown Irving station Oct. 19 when the Fredericton Police Force received a call about an attempted robbery in progress.
The stolen Mercedes had crashed through the doors of the business, causing severe damage and forcing the closure of the station for a brief period.
The boys were arrested at the scene, a police spokesperson said, and one person was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained during the incident.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
Catch and release. No consequences.