Home invasion robbery suspect to spend rest of trial in jail: judge

Article content material

The suspect in a house invasion theft case the place the bandit posed as a policeman will spend the remainder of his trial behind bars, a choose dominated Tuesday.

Justice Chris Rickards agreed with Crown prosecutors Joe Mercier and Elaine Ng that the self-represented Armin Babic had accomplished all he might to derail the case and it was time to revoke his bail.

Article content material

Babic, who had been commuting day by day from Edmonton since his trial started final week, was not in court docket very first thing Tuesday, as a substitute showing by telephone to say he was at his physician’s workplace awaiting a prescription for hypertension drugs to be supplied.

Article content material

He informed Rickards he would be capable to get to court docket by the start of the afternoon session at 2 p.m. and the Courtroom of King’s Bench choose adjourned proceedings till then.

However when 2 p.m. rolled round Babic was nonetheless nowhere in sight and was known as once more.

He stated he had returned house after his physician’s appointment solely to be arrested by an Edmonton Police Service officer on an impressive warrant and was subsequently launched on a promise to look, however was now on the highway to Calgary.

Rickards gave Babic till 3:30 p.m. to get to court docket, however after he arrived Mercier informed Rickards the latest delay was self-inflicted, as Babic had informed the officer to fulfill him at his house to impact the arrest.

Mercier additionally stated an ankle bracelet monitoring program Babic was speculated to pay for as a situation of his launch had lapsed on Feb. 26, for non-payment.

“Mr. Babic known as this officer to impact the warrant when he was speculated to be in court docket in Calgary,” Mercier stated.

“He’s in breach of his launch circumstances,” the prosecutor added, of Babic permitting the monitoring funds to lapse.

“Mr. Babic ought to be arrested, his bail revoked and he ought to be in custody for the remainder of his trial.”

Article content material

Rickards agreed, however Babic begged him to rethink, insisting he had now secured lodging in Calgary and wouldn’t have any future issues attending his listening to.

The choose stated if Babic might present proof he had a spot to remain he’d give him one other night time of freedom, however the accused might solely present on his cellphone that he was within the means of attempting to ebook an Airbnb.

“You’re going to be arrested, you’re going to be in custody till the top of your trial not less than,” Rickards stated, earlier than court docket sheriffs took him to cells.

Babic, 41, is accused of breaking into an acreage west of De Winton on Nov. 19, 2019, and robbing the home-owner at gunpoint whereas firing a shot contained in the residence and getting access to the sufferer’s protected.

The robber escaped with jewellery, a handgun registered to the sufferer and greater than $20,000 in U.S. money.

In his opening assertion final week, Mercier stated Babic was arrested a short while after the theft, with the stolen items within the borrowed pickup he was driving.

KMartin@postmedia.com

X: @KMartinCourts

Share this text in your social community