The man charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of a cab driver in 2017 is expected to plead guilty, according to his defence lawyer.
Cody Perkin, 24, was charged after 64-year-old Vijay Bhatia was found without vital signs in a convenience store parking lot around 1 a.m. on April 29.
Perkin is being represented by defence counsel James Zegers.
“We’re basically close to the end,” Zegers told Global News Radio 980 CFPL outside the courthouse Friday morning.
During the brief hearing, a judge set aside three hours on Oct. 19 for a guilty plea and sentencing.
“Anything can happen, but we anticipate … Mr. Perkin will be entering a guilty plea and that he’ll be sentenced on that day,” explained Zegers.
Perkin didn’t appear in court Friday, as expected. Zegers told the court when he visited Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre on Thursday, he was told Perkin was being prepared for surgery at a local hospital.
Zegers has told the court in the past that his client needed surgery to repair a valve in his heart, and that it was unclear when the operation would take place.
According to London Police, Bhatia picked up two passengers and was assaulted by one of them after driving to the Mac’s Milk store at 925 Wonderland R.d S.