Anand-Ford’s arraignment pushed back to give new lawyer added time

By Peggy Revell on August 12, 2017.

Medicine Hat News

Aaron Raj Anand-Ford, accused of homicide in the death of Dustin Hewer, had his arraignment pushed back to Sept. 8 during an appearance Friday at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Medicine Hat.

Defense requested the three-week delay to allow time for Anand-Ford’s new attorney to get up to speed on his case. This request was granted by Justice Pullman after receiving no objections to the delay from the Crown.

A preliminary inquiry was waived by Anand-Ford’s former counsel on June 28, with the case heading straight to trial.

Anand-Ford was arrested, alongside Jacob Peter Porfoun, following the death of 24-year-old Dustin Hewer on Nov. 5, 2016. An autopsy concluded Hewer’s death was caused by “sharp force injury.”

Porfoun pled down from second-degree murder to manslaughter on June 21, and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail. A publication ban prevents the details surrounding Porfoun’s involvement in the homicide from being published until Anand-Ford’s trial has concluded.

Anand-Ford has not sought bail at all since his arrest, and has remained in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre.