July 17 Update: Christina Noudga is still in custody at the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton. She will be tried separately from Dellen Millard and Mark Smich.
Christina Noudga was arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact for the murder of Tim Bosma on April 10th. Over the past week, a few people have asked me why — more than a month later — she hasn’t yet had a bail hearing.
The short answer is because, as of her last court appearance on May 5th, Noudga’s lawyer Paul Mergler hadn’t requested a bail hearing. That, of course leads to the next question, which is why? To which the short answer is because he doesn’t want to lose and needs time to prepare given that the crown has said that it will likely contest a bail application.
Accessory to murder is a serious charge carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment although a common sentence is in the five-year range. If Noudga, the girlfriend of Dellen Millard, were to be denied bail (as happened in this case), she could be stuck in jail until her trial (assuming she does not change her not guilty plea), which could be years away. Bail rulings are notoriously difficult to have overturned.
Christina Noudga remanded until May 22. Defence said he just received “voluminous disclosure” and needs to go over it. #dellenmillard
— Liam Casey (@liamdevlincasey) May 5, 2014
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Based on the evidence against her, Noudga’s lawyer will decide whether to apply for bail. At her last court appearance he said he had just received “voluminous disclosure.” When she appears in court in Hamilton this Thursday via video, we might find out more about whether or not there’s going to be a bail application and when.
Noudga, a Toronto university student, turned 22 on April 26th.
AnnBrocklehurst.com 