The suspect in what say was the random murder of a Calgary woman in the city’s downtown core won’t stand trial until the spring.
Defence counsel Kim Ross appeared in Calgary Court of King’s Bench Friday to reschedule Michael Adenyi’s jury trial to commence next March 31.
Adenyi was to face a jury beginning Sept. 9, but Ross was granted permission to delay the hearing after indicating he was still recovering from February surgery and wouldn’t be able to handle a major trial “of this kind of complexity” that soon.
Justice Rosemary Nation, who presided Friday over criminal appearance court, said the new dates mean a new trial judge will have to be assigned.
“Justice Hollins isn’t available then, so it’ll have to be another trial judge,” Nation said.
Crown prosecutor Carla MacPhail noted the case was already at the limit established by the Supreme Court for criminal matters to make their way through the courts, but Ross waived any delay from the Sept. 9, date to next spring.
“There’s been an expressed waiver of Jordan,” she told Nation, citing the Supreme Court case on the issue of unreasonable delay.
Adenyi is charged with first-degree murder in the March 18, 2022, killing of Vanessa Ladouceur, in what police say was a random attack in the 100 block of 10th Avenue S.E.
When the issue of adjourning the trial was before Hollins last month, she said she was reluctant to delay the case, given the fact Adenyi has been in custody since his arrest the day of Ladouceur’s death and the accused has mental health issues.
“He’s been in custody for years with psychiatric issues. Who’s looking out for him?” she said, before allowing an adjournment.
Adenyi was originally scheduled to stand trial beginning last Oct. 23, but that hearing was adjourned because a defence witness was unavailable.