Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle waived his client, Aaron Gardiner’s appearance in court March 15.
Pfefferle asked that the matter be brought back before the court on April 12, adding that by then he should know whether or not the attorney general has approved the Crown to proceed by direct indictment. If the direct indictment is approved then there won’t be a preliminary hearing and the case will be sent directly to Court of Queen’s Bench.
Canada’s Criminal Code allows for a case to be sent directly to trial without a preliminary hearing through a direct indictment. It is only used in serious crimes and when it’s in the public interest.