A Red Deer man accused of brutally attacking his girlfriend and her two sons was ordered on Friday to stand trial by judge alone in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
The 25-year-old suspect, whose name is withheld to protect the identities of underage witnesses, was charged with assault and assault with a weapon on June 16, 2012.
Police were called to investigate reports of a man kicking a small child while outside a residence in the Glendale subdivision of Red Deer.
Red Deer City RCMP allege that investigators found a six-year-old boy wearing a diaper, smeared in feces and suffering wounds to his arms and eyes.
The man was originally scheduled to stand trial in Red Deer provincial court last week. However, the accused changed his election from provincial court to Queen’s Bench in July, when his former girlfriend came forward with additional information.
A preliminary hearing was held instead, allowing the Crown and defence to weigh evidence before proceeding to trial on a revised list of charges.
The accused man, represented by Red Deer lawyer Lorne Goddard, is scheduled to set a trial date in Queen’s Bench on Monday, Sept. 9.
He was released from custody on July 10 of this year on a surety of $5,000, which becomes payable if he misses his court dates.