Crown seeking direct indictment in threats case
The Crown plans on seeking a direct indictment for Alexa Amanda Emerson, the Saskatoon woman accused in connection with dozens of bomb threats and white powder package deliveries, in order to send the case straight to trial.
Such a request is made in cases where the Crown believes there is a serious enough reason to bypass a preliminary hearing, which determines if there is enough evidence for a trial. Reasons for a direct indictment include ensuring public confidence in the administration of justice, avoiding multiple court proceedings and protecting ongoing police investigations.
It’s not known which reason the Crown is relying on in this case.
Emerson, who appeared briefly on Tuesday in Saskatoon provincial court, faces more than 80 charges of public mischief, uttering threats and criminal harassment after threatening packages were delivered to businesses and schools in November 2016 and March 2017.
She was initially released from custody in January, re-arrested in April and denied bail in June. Following Emerson’s bail hearing, the Crown estimated the financial toll of the white powder and bomb scares at more than $200,000.
The details of the case were laid out during the two-day bail hearing, but the information is banned from publication to ensure the accused has a fair trial. One of Emerson’s previous lawyers indicated the allegations involve a “complicated domestic situation.”
The case has been set over to Oct. 17 while the Crown awaits permission from either the attorney general or deputy attorney general to proceed with the direct indictment.