The man who allegedly stabbed a hotel patron in Fernie in October appeared in court via telephone last week, venting his frustration at the judge before disconnecting mid-hearing.
Livan Chris Barnett has been charged with aggravated assault over the incident that occurred at Fernie’s Super 8 Motel on October 22.
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Barnett is also facing PSP (Possession of Stolen Property) under $5000, taking or occupying a vehicle or vessel without consent of the owner, failure to appear pursuant to appearance notice, a transfer of probation order from out of province, as well as a breach of probation order. The charges relate to offences allegedly committed between November 2017 and October 2018.
Barnett is being held in the Okanagan Correctional Centre and appeared in the Fernie Law Courts via telephone on December 6.
He was previously scheduled to be sent to Vancouver for a psychiatric assessment before appearing in court again, but the assessment was reported to be inconclusive and Barnett uncooperative in the process.
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The court heard that Barnett terminated the video interview with the psychiatrist on October 23.
The Crown prosecutor said given that Barnett has a history of mental health issues, the assessment would have been useful.
It was at around this point in the hearing, Barnett, who had been on the phone, disconnected the call. The court called him back and the hearing resumed.
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Barnett spoke up, insisting the court (in summary) “Figure something out… move forward… I’m not going to sit here and rot while you ruin my life… don’t just throw me in prison or throw me in a psychiatric ward…”
Speaking over the judge, Barnett continued, saying “I don’t need to get screwed over by another individual like I have in the past”.
Barnett then disconnected the call again.
He is scheduled to appear in Cranbrook Law Courts via video on December 17 to receive the results of the psychiatric assessment and for a bail hearing.