A Coronation man accused of destroying a church had two charges switched between courts. The request was granted at Red Deer Court of King’s Bench Nov. 18.
Nikolas Guy Fortier, 24, was originally charged with arson and mischief over $5,000 after the Coronation Evangelical Free Church was set on fire Sept. 5, 2023. The church was destroyed.
Earlier this year it was noted those charges were sent to the Court of King’s Bench.
At court Nov. 18 lawyer Andrew Phypes, acting as agent for Fortier’s lawyer David Reeves, stated a notice of reelection was filed to have those two charges removed from King’s Bench and sent to the Alberta Court of Justice instead. Neither Fortier nor Reeves were present in court.
Also, the defence lawyers requested that trial dates set aside for those two charges in Jan. 2025 be vacated (cancelled). The lawyers further asked that Fortier’s charges be adjourned until Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. The judge granted all defence requests.
According to the Government of Alberta The Court of King’s Bench is the superior trial court for the province, hearing trials in civil and criminal matters and appeals from decisions of the Court of Justice.
According to a press release from RCMP K Division, Coronation and Consort RCMP responded to a 911 complaint of a structure fire at the Evangelical Free Church in the Town of Coronation on Tues. Sept. 5, 2023.
Witnesses on scene provided video and witnessed a male attend the church earlier in the morning with a jerry can. The male was later seen returning to the Church just before 12 p.m., and leaving soon after, just before the fire was reported.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
