NEWS FILE PHOTO The Medicine Hat Provincial Court is seen in this file photo.
A Medicine Hat man accused of promoting hatred and gathering firearms will go to trial after all, the News has learned.
In early March, Loki Hulgaard fired his defence attorney and attempted to remove a guilty plea on charges that he passed currency with anti-Semitic statements stamped on them.
On Thursday, the matter was back in Medicine Hat Provincial Court, where it was adjourned to Oct. 15, at which time a trial date will be fixed.
It’s believed that Hulgaard will act as his own attorney.
A special prosecutor is handling the Crown’s case for Alberta Justice.
Requests for further information from that office about the case, including details of Hulgaard’s plan to retract his plea, were not answered on Thursday.
The News previously reported in March that Hulgaard entered a guilty plea in late February just as his trial was set to begin, but then a week later dismissed his attorney and made an attempt to withdraw the plea.
In August 2018, police arrested Hulgaard after a grocery store cashier reported to authorities that she received payment in bills stamped with anti-Semitic statements.
Specifically, they referred to “White Genocide,” a theory popular among racist groups that posits that increased immigration is a plot perpetrated by Jews to overwhelm white European populations and culture.
During a search of Hulgaard’s residence on the Southeast Hill, Medicine Hat police also found a .22 calibre rifle, a shotgun and two SKS assault-style rifles, all with their serial numbers removed, as well as ammunition and over-sized magazines.
Hulgaard stated in a hearing on the weapon matters that he was gathering weapons ahead of a race war that he believed would occur in 2024.
Promoting hatred is an indictable office in the Criminal Code, and is punishable by up to two years in jail.
He is charged with one count, and also faces 13 firearms related charges.
He had previously pled guilty to a non-criminal contravention of his firearms licence when he did not report that he legally changed his name in 2013.
Prior to 2013, Hulgaard was known as Brendan Stanley Dell.
