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Owner of Dunaj, Rob Szalas, at the courthouse this morning. Photo by K.A. Smith.
Justice Paul Rivard has agreed to an adjournment for Rob Szalas.
Rob Szalas was relieved that Justice Rivard is allowing extra time for his attorney to prepare his defense. Szalas had told the judge it was such short notice.
The lawyer for the Medical Officer of Health/Executive for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, Dr. Jim Chirico, is Christian Tremblay. In court Tremblay argued there should be no further delay in the proceedings because of a threat to public safety. Tremblay reasoned there were online threats directed at many people involved in the case such as ‘so and so should be put down.’
Szalas told the judge he knew of no such threats.
Judge Paul Rivard declared threats online as a matter for the police and should be investigated if possible.
Tremblay replied to Judge Rivard that the worst of the comments on the internet had been deleted.
Justice Rivard gave decision saying that Szalas was cooperating and it was reasonable for his lawyer to have time to review the case.
On January 16th, Szalas was served notice to appear before the court on Friday, January 23 for a Contempt of Court hearing after Szalas did not obey the court order to give his dog, Dunaj, to animal control under the Section 13 order.
Szalas was ordered to surrender the dog on January 3, 2015 following an alleged breach in the agreement for home stay. Szalas was ordered to surrender the dog again January 9th when he was formally served notice that his motion to appeal was dismissed by the Health Services Appeal and Review Board.
Justice Rivard has ordered Szalas to appear before him Friday, February 13th at the North Bay Court House.
