Riders’ Smith to face trial
REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Taj Smith has been ordered to stand trial on a charge of aggravated assault against a 20-year-old man last August.
Riders defensive back Dwight Anderson — also charged with aggravated assault in relation to the same incident — was discharged Thursday afternoon by Regina Provincial Court Judge Barbara Tomkins following a two-day preliminary hearing.
Tomkins ruled there was insufficient evidence to order Anderson to stand trial.
“I CAN MOVE ON AND PLAY FOOTBALL AND DO EVERYTHING ELSE — JUST DON’T GO ON DEWDNEY,”
DWIGHT ANDERSON
Details of the evidence presented at the hearing can’t be published due to a court-ordered publication ban.
Smith elected to have his case be heard by a Queen’s Bench judge and jury. A trial date has not been set.
On Aug. 18, the Regina police were called to a fight outside a nightclub in the 2000 block of Dewdney Avenue around 2:50 a.m.
Police found the victim at the scene suffering from serious injuries. He was transported to hospital by EMS.
Anderson and Smith were arrested and charged on Sept. 11.
After the hearing, Anderson told reporters that with the court proceedings dealt with, he can move on and concentrate on football.
“I knew ... that I didn’t do anything. I just had to go through the court system (and) that was going to take time. Other than that, my lawyer did a great job and the judge ruled what was right. I felt like it was the right thing,” he said.
“I can move on and play football and do everything else — just don’t go on Dewdney,” he said, laughing.
Crown prosecutor Adam Breker said Smith being ordered to stand trial was the “result we expected.” Based on the judge’s reasoning of the evidence, he wasn’t surprised Anderson was discharged, he added.
Smith and his lawyer, Aaron Fox, declined to comment.
A Roughriders spokesman said in an email that “The Saskatchewan Roughriders acknowledge the legal process continues to move forward for one of its players. We respect the process and will continue to monitor it throughout the duration. We will have no further comment at this time.”
A third Rider, Eron Riley, was also charged with aggravated assault in the incident. Last week, the court ordered a stay of proceedings in his case.