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Responding to a bomb threat, police direct people to evacuate at the intersection of Barrington Street and Duke Street, in downtown Halifax, Aug. 10.Devin Stevens/The Canadian Press
The man accused of threatening to bomb the U.S. Consulate in Halifax in August made a court appearance this morning via video link, but the hearing was quickly derailed.
The lawyer for 54-year-old Ali Assakereh told a provincial court judge Thursday that the accused wanted to be tried by a judge in Nova Scotia Supreme Court and would plead not guilty.
But Assakereh then held up a handwritten note to the camera, indicating he did not want to change courts.
The judge rescheduled the matter for next month and said Assakereh and his Farsi interpreter should appear in person to avoid further confusion.
Assakereh is facing charges of mischief and uttering threats, as well as a charge under a section of the Criminal Code that prohibits threats against internationally protected people, including diplomats.
The Crown has said it considers the latter offence to be terrorist activity.