Musician’s bail plan falls apart

Protesters again gather outside court for Chris Carter's scheduled appearance Friday

After asking for a postponement to allow him time to organize a bail plan, Chris Carter is now back at Square 1, a St. John’s court heard Friday.

Carter, a local musician and former bar owner, is charged with eight crimes of sexual violence against two children, alleged to have been committed between January and May of this year: sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference and sexual exploitation.

He has been in custody for about two weeks and has been scheduled multiple times for a bail hearing. Each time, protesters have gathered outside Atlantic Place on Water Street to oppose Carter’s potential release from custody and to show support for the young complainants and all survivors of sexual violence.

Friday’s scheduled court date was no different, with more than a dozen people gathered with signs bearing phrases such as, “Keep creeps off the streets.”

Once again, Carter’s bail hearing didn’t go ahead. The 35-year-0ld Pouch Cove man has reportedly been attempting to organize a plan that would satisfy the Crown’s conditions for his release, including securing a surety. A plan had apparently been in place Friday morning before it fell apart.

Carter is scheduled to make his next court appearance via a video call from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary on June 24.