Calgary man convicted of murder in child’s death seeking new lawyer for sentencing

CALGARY - A sentencing listening to for a Calgary man convicted of second-degree homicide for killing his girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter has been additional delayed.

Justin Bennett was convicted final 12 months within the beating demise of Ivy Wick. She was injured on Sept. 27, 2017, and died in hospital of head and mind accidents eight days later.

An post-mortem revealed she suffered blunt power trauma, which prompted murder investigators to take over the case.

Bennett was charged a 12 months later following a confession to undercover cops. He instructed them he had develop into indignant after being interrupted by the kid, smashed her within the head, threw her towards a wall then tripped her

He fired his lawyer earlier this month and was ordered to get a brand new one. His former defence counsel Allan Fay requested to withdraw from the case, citing “irreconcilable variations” between himself and his consumer.

Bennett appeared in court docket by telephone Tuesday from the Calgary Remand Centre, the place he stays in isolation because of COVID-19. He instructed the court docket he's ready for Authorized Support to present him the go forward to rent a brand new lawyer.

“They instructed me it may take as much as a month or a few months. I’m simply ready till my new counsel will get the certificates so she will be able to contact the Crown prosecutor and (get) all the pieces began so it’s going to take slightly little bit of time,” Bennett mentioned.

Crown prosecutor Suzanne Kendall advised the matter be put over for 2 weeks to Feb. 1 and that she would comply with as much as see the place issues stand to “guarantee Authorized Support understands there’s some want to maneuver this matter on.”

“Whereas I admire it does take Authorized Support a while to difficulty a brand new certificates, in my respectful submission a number of months to conduct an investigation clearly is inappropriate within the circumstances,” she mentioned.

The unique sentencing listening to was delayed final fall after Bennett demanded a second opinion on his psychiatric well being.

He complained that Dr. Reilly Smith, the psychiatrist who did his evaluation, didn’t like him and confirmed bias in his report.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 18, 2022.