A Wallaceburg man charged with attempted murder after a shooting in Wallaceburg last month was released from custody Thursday.
Michael Authier was arrested after an incident at a Wallaceburg home February 26 that left an 18-year-old woman with non-life threatening injuries. Authier's bail hearing was scheduled for Wednesday but wasn't resolved in time. He returned to court Thursday and was released after his mother and father pledged $25,000 each to act as sureties.
Authier's lawyer, Frank Retar, originally asked that Michael's mother, father, sister, and brother act as his sureties while he is on bail. Retar argued that his parents are "trusted individuals" who are responsible enough to watch over Michael while he is out on bail. He added they have a plan to make sure he is on good behaviour while out on bail and obeys his conditions. Retar said there wasn't enough evidence or enough details in front of the courts to justify keeping him behind bars.
The Crown argued that since Authier's criminal record included multiple breaches of bail conditions there is no assurance he will comply with the conditions and he cannot be relied on. The judge ultimately decided to grant his release.
His next scheduled court date is April 3 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham. There is a publication ban on the case so any evidence or anything said in court cannot be reported.
-With files from Allanah Wills