MOOSE JAW — Moose Jaw MLA Gregory Samuel Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him, while the Crown and defence are now searching for a day to hold his trial.
Lawrence, 58, was not present in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on June 12 when his matters were discussed. Instead, defence lawyer Estes Fonkalsrud appeared on his behalf and entered pleas of not guilty to the alleged offences of assault and assault by choking.
Lawrence’s alleged offences are said to have occurred in 2019. The Crown is proceeding on these matters summarily, which is a less serious approach to the offences.
Fonkalsrud noted that while these alleged incidents occurred on different dates, it would be appropriate to try them together during a one-day trial.
Judge David Chow said that an out-of-town judge would likely hear the trial because of conflicts of interest, which means the court manager would have to find an outside judge for the trial.
Chow adjourned the matter to July 16 to give the court manager time to acquire a relief judge, while the Crown and defence would set trial dates at that time.
According to previous information, the Moose Jaw Police Service charged Lawrence with assault on Jan. 31, after it began an investigation on June 27, 2023, into complaints of assault during an interaction between two people.
Specifically, police charged Lawrence with assault, contrary to section 266 of the Criminal Code, and choking, contrary to section 267 of the Criminal Code.
Lawrence had announced on Jan. 30 that he was resigning from the Saskatchewan Party caucus after it became known that he was the subject of a police investigation.
Lawrence, who had previously announced he would not seek re-election following a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in August 2023, now sits as an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the term.
He has been the MLA for the Moose Jaw Wakamow constituency since 2011, winning by 201 votes over NDP incumbent Deb Higgins. Lawrence then won by 695 votes over NDP candidate Karen Purdy during the 2016 election and won by 822 over NDP candidate Melissa Patterson in 2020.
The next provincial election must occur on or before Monday, Oct. 28, according to election rules. In the Wakamow constituency, Sask. Party candidate Megan Patterson will face off against NDP candidate Melissa Patterson; neither are related.
It’s unknown if the other parties have found candidates to run in the Moose Jaw-Wakamow riding.
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