MOOSE JAW - Moose Jaw lawyer Estes Fonkalsrud had withdrawn as defence counsel for outgoing MLA Greg Lawrence because of an alleged conflict of interest, but the latter still wants the former to represent him.
Fonkalsrud appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on July 31 on behalf of the retiring politician, where he told Judge Brian Hendrickson that Lawrence wants confirmation about whether the lawyer truly has a conflict of interest with one Crown witness.
It is that .
Meanwhile, Fonkalsrud said that Lawrence has reached out to other defence lawyers in the community to represent him, but none is available for the scheduled trial on Monday, Nov. 18. Yet, the Moose Jaw-Wakamow MLA will continue to look for legal representation.
Fonkalsrud added that he would continue to act as an agent for Lawrence until the latter found a lawyer.
Crown prosecutor Rob Parker encouraged the court to keep the Nov. 18 trial date for Lawrence’s matters regardless of whether or when he finds a lawyer since it is tough to secure timely dates for trials; Judge Brian Hendrickson agreed to the request.
Lawrence will next appear in court on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
, 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 is related.
