Delays continue for accused in November homicide

By Peggy Revell on July 14, 2017.

Medicine Hat New

Court delays continue for a Medicine Hat man charged in November with second-degree murder, with defence counsel yet to receive the autopsy report for the case.

Noah Harrison Bentley appeared Thursday by closed-circuit TV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre, in what was originally meant to be an appearance to set a date for his preliminary hearing.

Instead, court heard from Bentley’s defence counsel that they have yet to receive the autopsy reports from the Calgary medical examiner — the reason given at Bentley’s last appearance as to why an adjournment was needed.

Medicine Hat’s chief Crown prosecutor said the prosecutor handling the case will be pressing the medical examiner to get the reports sent along, and if that doesn’t work she too will be contacting them.

Bentley’s next court appearance is now set for Aug. 24.

Bentley was charged Nov. 12 following the death of Brenda Woloski. He has been in custody ever since, and he has yet to have a bail hearing. He has not entered a plea to the charge.

Earlier this year, he was sent for assessment in Calgary as to whether he could be held criminally responsible.