CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Two out of four people charged with breaking into a Hunter River residence and stealing a safe while wearing masks have elected to have their matters heard in separate courts.
The four co-accused – Michael Robert Bryenton, 43, Michael Arthur Gaudet, 38, Amanda Olivia Fairhurst, 20, and Laura Kimberly Beaton, 38 – had their matters called in provincial court in Charlottetown on May 24. They are each charged with break and enter to commit the indictable offence of robbery and wearing a mask. Gaudet, Bryenton and Beaton are also charged with breach of probation. Representing the P.E.I. Crown attorney’s office on May 24 was Molly Murphy.
According to information previously released by the RCMP, on Saturday, Feb. 18, Bryenton, Gaudet, Beaton and Fairhurst were arrested at 8:30 a.m. in a vehicle on Kenwood Circle in Charlottetown in relation to a complaint earlier that morning about a home invasion at an apartment on Route 13 in Hunter River. Police allege the four accused forcibly entered the apartment, pointed a firearm at the two residents and took a safe. The four people then fled the scene in a silver car. Police received the complaint at 8:10 a.m. that morning. Officers located the silver car shortly after entering Charlottetown on Lower Malpeque Road and pulled it over on Kenwood Circle.
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None of the allegations against the four accused have been proven in court.
At the May 24 court appearance, defence lawyer Conor Mullin (representing legal aid) spoke on behalf of Gaudet, Fairhurst and Beaton.
Mullin told Judge Nancy Orr that Gaudet was electing to have his matters heard by a P.E.I. Supreme Court judge alone. Gaudet's breach of probation charge is remaining in provincial court and was adjourned to June 19.
Bryenton appeared by video for the court appearance. Mullin explained that Bryenton had been receiving "limited representation" by legal aid, but that was no longer the case.
Bryenton said he didn't fire anyone. Bryenton started to explain that legal aid presented him with a "two-year deal," but Orr interrupted him to clarify whether he was still going to be represented by legal aid.
Unlike Gaudet, who elected P.E.I. Supreme Court, Bryenton elected to have his matters remain in provincial court for trial. Bryenton said he is going to look for a lawyer to represent him in court.
Orr adjourned Bryenton's matter to June 12 to set a date for the trial. Beaton and Fairhurst have yet to make an election and had their matters adjourned to June 6, also in provincial court.
Gaudet's matters were transferred to P.E.I. Supreme Court for arraignment on June 13.
The four accused are being held in custody at the Provincial Correctional Centre while their matters are before the courts.
Terrence McEachern is a justice reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached by email at [email protected] and can be followed on Twitter @terry_mcn.
