Convicted killer Justin Bennett as soon as once more in search of new lawyer

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Convicted baby killer Justin Bennett’s sentencing is prone to be delayed once more as he’s gone via one other lawyer.

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Defence counsel Krysia Przepiorka appeared earlier than Justice Blair Nixon on Tuesday to say she and Bennett have parted methods.

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Przepiorka mentioned she and Bennett not have a “assembly of the minds” on how his sentencing listening to ought to proceed and requested that she be eliminated as counsel of document.

The lawyer mentioned her relationship with the convicted killer started to deteriorate in July and progressed into August.

She mentioned new counsel has been lined up, however couldn’t say who as they haven’t but been retained by Authorized Assist.

Bennett is scheduled to face a two-day sentencing listening to Sept. 16 and 19, however it’s unlikely a brand new lawyer could be ready to proceed at the moment.

It’s been practically 18 months since Bennett was convicted on March 19, 2021, of second-degree homicide within the beating loss of life of Ivy Wick.

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Bennett’s sentencing listening to was initially delayed a yr in the past when then-defence counsel Allan Fay raised issues a few psychiatric report in regards to the convicted killer.

Nixon declined an software for a second opinion however mentioned Dr. Reilly Smith might be cross-examined about issues Bennett had about potential bias.

That has but to happen.

Nixon convicted Bennett, discovering his confession to an undercover officer throughout a so-called Mr. Massive operation to be compelling.

Bennett admitted assaulting the three-year-old whereas her mom was showering of their northeast Calgary condominium.

The decide rejected defence arguments that Ivy’s mom, Helen Wordsworth, might have been answerable for the kid’s mind trauma that induced her to be hospitalized Sept. 27, 2017.

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Regardless of efforts by employees at Alberta Youngsters’s Hospital, Ivy by no means regained consciousness and died Oct. 5.

Earlier than permitting Przepiorka to withdraw as counsel for Bennett, Nixon requested a few doable software by the offender for a judicial keep primarily based on unreasonable delay.

“Do we now have any issues on this? That is the second delay,” he famous.

Within the Jordan resolution, the Supreme Court docket mentioned instances ought to be accomplished inside 30 months of an accused individual being charged.

However Crown prosecutor Sue Kendall mentioned that shouldn’t be a problem, since each adjournment since Bennett’s initially scheduled sentence listening to was because of his conduct.

“Ought to a Jordan software come up, my place is that each one the delay that has occurred since Mr. Bennett’s conviction is at his ft,” Kendall mentioned.

Nixon ordered Bennett to attend prison look court docket on Friday to replace his standing on getting a brand new lawyer.

KMartin@postmedia.com

Twitter: @KMartinCourts