"I'm not impressed by the cavalier attitude in this courtroom."
Those were the words from Superior Court Justice Thomas A. Heeney, directed toward Kourtny Audette's lawyer Laura Joy on Monday.
Audette is the accused in a first-degree murder charge, after Nick Laprise was found dead in April 2018. She appeared in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, supported by her mother, step-mother, and father.
Joy arrived in the courtroom roughly 10 minutes late for the bail proceeding, which was expected to last a full day. The hearing, however, ended approximately 30 minutes after the court was called back into session. Due to the severity and the significance of the charge, Joy told the courtroom she wanted to make sure all necessary precautions were being taken before going ahead with requesting bail.
The defence claimed it has obtained a cash bail, primary residential surety, a bracelet, and appointments with a neuropsychologist if bail was granted to Audette. Joy also told the courtroom they do not have a secondary surety secured, which is what is expected to be required by the crown.
The mood of the courtroom changed when Joy told justice Heeney the primary surety was working and was not able to testify at Monday's hearing. Heeney told Joy he wasn't happy about that, claiming to have driven two hours for what was supposedly a full day's work.
Clearly disgruntled, Heeney made note of the congested legal system before granting another day to speak to the bail phase of Audette's case. Audette was visibly upset as she spoke with Joy about the case, wiping tears from her eyes as she left the courtroom when it was adjourned.
It is unclear if Audette will appear in person for the next speak-to hearing on July 3, where both the crown and defence will look to set a new date for a bail hearing.