This morning [ed: November 4, 2009] at 10:10am AST, Nicole Cassandra(sp?) Anderson, aged 40, appeared in courtroom #3 at Spring Garden Road in Halifax on a charge of assault against our now named (but not here!) anon.
The crown prosecutor was asked by the judge how he wished to proceed with the charge, he replied 'summarily'. As explained earlier this means it will likely be a trial by judge.
Nicole Anderson was asked if she had sought advice from a lawyer, she replied 'no'. She appeared to be nervous and was behaving in a somewhat odd fashion, lurching back and forth from the microphone. The judge asked if she had been given the defense disclosure package, she replied no and it was handed to her in court as she appeared before the microphone.
She was asked if she would like to enter a plea at this time, and she replied that she knew how she wished to plead, and that would be not guilty.
"Will you be seeking the council of a lawyer at this time?"
"No." She said "I know my story well."
"Ms. Anderson, it does not matter if you know your story well. What matters is that you know the law in order to properly defend yourself."
"Okay."
"Would you like to receive advice from a private lawyer or from legal aid?"
"Legal aid, definitely legal aid."
A quick discussion was had on when appointments are available from legal aid, and with this in mind her next court appearance was scheduled to take place at 9:30am on December 15th, 2009.
Ms. Anderson was accompanied in court by an unknown man.
