Man facing assault charges fit to stand trial

A 22-year-old Lethbridge man accused along with two others of attacking two people at a residence in Lethbridge last year made a brief appearance in provincial court Tuesday.

Neil Joseph Schuler, who appeared by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, is charged with single counts of assault with a weapon and aggravated assault stemming from a confrontation at a northside home Oct. 15 of last year.

Two men and a woman became embroiled in an argument with another man and woman over a $20 debt, which led to a fight in a nearby alley. One of the assailants, Brett Anderson, swung a bat at his victims but did not strike anyone. He pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to one charge of assault with a weapon and received a oneyear suspended sentence.

His girlfriend, Serina Justine Nooitgedagt, was also involved in the fight and swung a bat but missed the man whom she had targeted. She then swung it at the man's girlfriend, striking her on the wrist.

Nooitgedagt pleaded guilty July 27 to two counts of assault with a weapon. The court ordered a pre-sentence report, which will provide personal information and circumstances about the accused to help the judge determine a fit sentence, and the case was adjourned to Oct. 16.

A third man became involved in the altercation and stabbed the male victim with a knife before everyone fled. The injured man went to the hospital a short time later after realizing he had been stabbed. He sustained a non-life threatening puncture wound to his chest, which required surgery, while his girlfriend sustained bruising and swelling to her hand.

Although Anderson and Nooitgedagt were arrested later the same day, an arrest warrant had to be issued for Schuler. Following his arrest he was ordered to have a psychological assessment to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. During Tuesday’s hearing court was told he was found to be fit and his case was adjourned until Thursday.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter