Man accused of stabbing police officer facing fall trial

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A man accused of attempted murder of a Saint John police officer after an alleged stabbing during a disturbance in a Canadian Tire pleaded not guilty.

Corey James Clarke, 35, of Route 825 in Garnett Settlement, pleaded not guilty Friday to seven charges which related to an Feb. 21 incident at the Fairville Boulevard Canadian Tire store. He is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault of Cst. Jonathan Grenier, assault of Cst. Ryan Woodman, assaulting a woman with a knife, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, mischief under $5,000 and resisting officers.

On Friday, Clarke appeared from the Restigouche Health Centre. Judge Claude Hache said Clarke was found fit to stand trial after a mental health assessment by a forensic psychiatrist, which Crown and defence both accepted.

Clarke’s lawyer David Lutz said his client chose trial by provincial court and entered not guilty pleas. He said Clarke reserved his right to seek bail, saying a bail hearing would be “a waste of everyone’s time and Mr. Clarke’s retainer.”

Crown prosecutor Andrew Pollabauer said the trial would take three days. Because Clarke needs the earliest possible dates due to being in custody, Hache scheduled the trial for non-consecutive days of Sept. 27, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.