The lawyer for one of two inmates still facing trial in relation to a brutal 2019 attack inside a Halifax jail told a judge Tuesday his client intends to plead guilty to aggravated assault.
An earlier trial heard that Brian James Marriott was among the inmates who blocked correctional officers as they tried to respond to the cell beating and stabbing on Dec. 2, 2019.
The Crown also argued during an earlier Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial that Marriott had a role as a ringleader who called for the attack against Stephen Anderson at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional facility.
Marriott is scheduled to return to Nova Scotia Supreme Court to formally enter his plea on Jan. 12 before Justice Jamie Campbell, and lead prosecutor Rick Woodburn said he also intends to ask the court to have Marriott designated a dangerous offender.
Campbell has already found 12 inmates guilty of aggravated assault and one of obstructing correctional officers, saying there was substantial evidence that what unfolded was planned in a meeting of the prisoners.
However, he concluded the inmates’ plan was to injure rather than kill Anderson after he was admitted to his cell.
At today’s hearing Nathan Gorham, the defence lawyer for Marriott, told the judge, “I’ve had the chance to speak to my client and he’s prepared to enter a guilty plea to aggravated assault, and I understand Crown counsel will accept that plea.”
Woodburn then said: “That’s correct, my lord.”
Campbell found the inmates in the first two trials not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and assault with a weapon related to the attack at the jail on the outskirts of Halifax.
The first trial, held in September, involved defendants Jacob Lilly, Wesley Hardiman, Matthew Lambert, Colin Ladelpha, Kirk Carridice and Omar McIntosh. The defendants in the second trial, which took place in November, were Kaz Cox, Austin Mitton, Kevin Clarke-McNeil, Andriko Crawley, Robert Fraser, Matthew Coaker and Geevan Nagendran.
Nagendran was the only inmate acquitted of aggravated assault, as he appeared to join the wall of prisoners blocking guards without having participated in the planning.
The two trials occurred separately due to COVID-19 restrictions which placed limits on the number of accused, lawyers, sheriffs and public who could physically attend each hearing.
Sophon Sek, the 15th inmate accused in the case, is seriously ill, and Campbell has indicated his trial may occur at a future date.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2021.