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New trial date set for Lutczyk

Robert LutczykBy Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

After long delays through the pre-trial process, a new trial date has been set for Oct. 13 in the case of former Oshawa city councilor Robert Lutczyk.

Lutczyk was arrested in 2012 on kidnapping and weapons charges.

Pretrial motions, which began at the beginning of this year, were slated to only last approximately three weeks, but stretched throughout the winter and summer months.

A request for comment sent to Crown prosecutor Ngai On Young was referred to the Ministry of the Attorney General, where spokesperson Brendan Crawley confirmed for The Express that pretrial motions are now completed.

According to Crawley, prior to the Oct. 13 trial date, Lutczyk will be back in court for a bail review and to tend to Lutczyk’s recent mandamus application.

The writ of mandamus allows an applicant to request administrative action if they suspect there has been a defect in the justice system.

Crawley would not comment further on the application.

The bail review will be one of many bids for freedom by the former Oshawa councillor. Bail applications were put forward in October 2012, March and November of 2013 and May 2014.

As well, a habeas corpus application – used by those who feel they have been wronged by the justice system –filed in November 2014.

All of these applications were denied.

Lutczyk faces numerous weapons charges and a charge of kidnapping following an incident in October 2012 when he allegedly kidnapped Oshawa city solicitor David Potts at gunpoint from the driveway of his home.

Lutczyk led police to a Whitby industrial area where a 27-hour standoff ensued before the former councillor surrendered without incident.

Potts escaped the ordeal unharmed.

All charges against Lutczyk have yet to be proven in court.

 

 

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