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Four men suspected in four home invasions in the St. John’s metro area earlier this year have all pleaded not guilty to the slew of charges against them.
Gary Hennessey, 32, Abdifatah Mohamed, 27, Mitchell Nippard, 25, and Tyler Donahue, 23, all appeared in provincial court today via video link from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary.
They were represented in court by their lawyers Derek Hogan (for Hennessey), Kevin Baker, who appeared via telephone for Mohamed, Ken Mahoney (for Nippard) and Michelle Elliott (for Donahue).
Their trial is scheduled for Nov. 20 to Dec. 1.
Prosecutor Patricia Carpenter told Judge Lori Marshall that it concerns the Crown that the trial date is so late in the year. She said she had hoped to begin in June.
Hogan spoke up and said defence lawyers are also concerned, since their clients are in custody. Unfortunately, it’s the only time the four defence lawyers’ busy schedules can sync, he said.
The home invasions were said to have happened on Fourth Street in Mount Pearl on Feb. 3, Mount Royal Avenue in the capital city on Feb. 4 and Milton Road in Paradise on Feb. 8 and Angels Road in Paradise on Feb. 9.
Each of the men each face more than a dozen charges, including break and enter, robbery, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and breaching court orders.
Nippard has also been charged with two counts of animal cruelty. He reportedly killed one dog and injured another during the Mount Royal Avenue home invasion.
Police said all four home invasions were targeted and are believed to be connected.
The fifth man, 28-year-old Mohamed Salim of Toronto, had also been charged in connection with all four home invasions. His body was found in early March in a gravel worksite off the Trans-Canada Highway in early March. Salim, who was visiting Newfoundland from Toronto, was reported missing Feb. 12. He was last seen Feb. 9 on Dawe’s Road in Paradise, where one of the home invasions had taken place. Police said the cause of death is not believed to be suspicious.
Another person, Kaylen King, was charged with obstructing justice in connection with the home invasions. She was released and is due back in court May 4.
