Accused in feces assaults granted bail

The 23- year- old man accused of dumping buckets full of feces on strangers in Toronto has been released on bail.

The contents of the proceedings, including Justice of the Peace Rhonda Roffey’s reasonings, and submissions from the Crown and defence, are covered by a publication ban, as is typical in a bail hearing.

Samuel Opoku appeared at Old City Hall Court Wednesday afternoon dressed in dark pants and a denim shirt over a bright orange T-shirt.

He was released on $1,000 bail without a surety. He is forbidden from contacting the complainants or any witnesses. He is also not allowed to visit York University and must stay 100 metres from the University of Toronto’s Robarts Library and 50 metres from 160 College St.

He is due back in mental health court at Old City Hall on Monday to prove he is receiving treatment. If he doesn’t show up, a warrant can be issued for his arrest.

“This is a one- strike- andyou’re- out case. But I don’t think that’s going to happen. In fact, I wouldn’t have made the submission I made today as counsel if I thought that was going to happen,” said Opoku’s lawyer, Jordan Weisz, outside court.

“We were very, very careful to ensure that the conditions not only provided safety to the community and public, but were also conditions that could be understood.”

Police arrested Opoku on Nov. 26 in connection with

WE’RE CAREFUL. WE’RE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TOO.

three separate attacks involving buckets allegedly containing what has been described as liquefied fecal matter.

On Friday Nov. 22, a man dumped a bucket of feces on two people studying at Robarts Library. Two days later, a similar attack took place 20 kilometres away, at York University’s Scott Library in the city’s north end. A third attack took place the following day. A man threw a bucket full of liquefied feces at a woman in front of 160 College St. at the southern edge of the U of T campus.

Opoku is charged with five counts each of assault with a weapon and mischief interfere with property.

His lawyer said outside court that he will be considering a not criminally responsible defence, but still has to review all the evidence.

“My responsibility as counsel is to ensure that the public continues to be protected and my client is able to access the resources he so desperately requires,” Weisz said, adding that the mental health court will be better able to monitor his client’s compliance with his bail conditions.

“We’re careful. We’re members of the public, too.”