Accused murderer Craig Pope was denied bail by a Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court judge in St. John’s today.
Pope’s supporters, sitting in the courtroom gallery, wept as Justice Vikas Khladkhar gave his decision. The judge’s reasons, as well as the details of the case presented during the bail hearing, are banned from publication.
Pope, 32, has been in custody since Sept. 7th of last year, the day he’s alleged to have fatally stabbed 36-year-old David (Jonathan) Collins on a St. John’s street.
Police were called to the area of Alderberry Lane and Mundy Pond Road shortly before 3:30 p.m. that day, to a report that a man had been stabbed on the road. Collins was unconscious and taken to hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Police say he had been stabbed with a knife, though they have not revealed whether or not they recovered the weapon.
Witnesses say Pope left the area in a taxi. Police arrested him soon afterwards on Elizabeth Avenue.
Police say Pope and Collins, a father of two, knew each other.
A preliminary inquiry has been set for next month to determine if there’s enough evidence for the case to go to trial. Pope has already chosen a trial by judge and jury if that’s the case.
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