K. Abbott

The self-represented offender applied to adjourn his dangerous offender hearing pending the outcome of several appeals at the Court of Appeal, including an appeal of the predicate offence conviction.

The court dismissed the application, noting that the appeals had not yet been scheduled and that further delaying the sentencing hearing, which had already been delayed for over seven years, would cause unacceptable fragmentation of the criminal proceedings and prejudice the public interest.

The Crown brought an application to appoint amicus curiae for the self-represented accused in a complex dangerous offender proceeding.

The accused opposed the appointment, asserting his right to represent himself.

The court granted the application, finding that the complexity of the dangerous offender hearing, the potential for an indeterminate sentence, and the need to ensure a fair trial necessitated the appointment of amicus to assist the court with legal issues and cross-examination of the complainant.