Court adjourns trial of Dawson Creek man accused of second-degree murder after he fires lawyers

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The trial for a Dawson Creek man charged with second-degree murder was adjourned before it could start after he fired his two lawyers.

Braidan Josie Meck, 31, is accused of fatally stabbing Devon Myles Lindstrom, 28, on June 11th, 2022 in a Queensway motel.

His trial was scheduled for 10 days in B.C. Supreme Court, but on August 5th, defence lawyer Tony Lagemaat told Justice Carla Forth that Meck had informed him of the decision late in the day Saturday, August 2nd.

No reason was mentioned in court.

Crown prosecutor Robert Climie said he was ready to proceed with the case against Meck, but Forth adjourned the matter to August 25th to allow Meck time to find a new lawyer.

New trial dates will be sought after that. 

“We’re not going to allow this thing to be delayed on a lengthy basis,” Forth said to Meck. “I am the trial judge, so we will facilitate getting a new trial date fairly quickly.”

Climie said “significant advances had been made” with Meck’s lawyers on admissions of fact in order to streamline the trial.

However, Meck had yet to sign them and Climie expects Meck’s new lawyer will want to review them. If Meck does not sign the admissions, the trial could last as long as three weeks.

“So we’re, in some ways, back to square one, regrettably,” Climie said.