Both of Daniel Bard's lawyers now on medical leave, trial halted until June

Katelin Belliveau · CBC News

· Posted: May 16, 2025 1:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

The proceedings of a erstwhile Moncton enforcement accused of 19 fiscal crimes has been adjourned for much than 2 weeks, adding to a increasing database of delays caused by Daniel Bard's own defence team.

Friday's tribunal proceedings successful Moncton began with Judge Anne Richard uncovering out that defence lawyer Tim Dubé had informed the tribunal astir 10 p.m. Thursday that helium had become ill and would not instrumentality to court until June.

Dubé was precocious assigned greater work successful the lawsuit aft Bard's erstwhile pb defence lawyer James Matheson told the tribunal past week that helium received orders from a doc to instrumentality a aesculapian leave, besides until June.

• Weeks-long hold successful Bard proceedings denied, defence asks nary questions to recalled witness

Bard, who said helium lone recovered retired astir Dubé's abrupt absence Friday morning, stood up successful tribunal erstwhile fixed the accidental to speak.

"I've been shaking since I heard," helium said.

Bard has been connected proceedings since April 22 for charges including fraud, theft and wealth laundering, immoderate of which subordinate to his clip arsenic vice-president of concern attraction with the Greater Moncton business development agency, 3+.

Guillaume LeBlanc, who concisely acted arsenic an cause for Dubé Friday morning, didn't springiness specifics astir the crushed for the permission but said Dubé could not beryllium contiguous "for aesculapian reasons." 

He said the concern present makes it truthful that "Mr. Bard is not successful a presumption to proceed."

Richard antecedently ruled connected a Crown question that Dubé be present successful tribunal for immoderate grounds to beryllium heard for the remainder of the trial.

Which means Dubé's absence leaves Bard without practice for now.

"I privation to adjourn if possible, your honour," Bard said. "Until I find retired what's going on."

Richard adjourned the proceedings until June 3, a proceeding which she said volition apt absorption connected managing the case "to spot wherever things are astatine that time."

Bard, who stood alone with a fewer reporters in the nationalist gallery, replied, "I'll beryllium here."