A man charged with the first-degree murder of a 20-year-old Lower Mainland woman in Brentwood Bay was strongly advised to get legal advice during a brief appearance in Victoria provincial court on Wednesday.
Alan Charles Chapman, 47, of Nanaimo, is charged with the first-degree murder of Emily Caruana and the aggravated assault of her uncle John Caruana and her boyfriend, Justin Booth. The charges arise out of a violent confrontation in the early hours of May 11 at a home in Brentwood Bay.
Chapman, a large man with short brown hair, appeared by video from the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre. He told Judge Mayland McKimm he wanted disclosure from the Crown sent in triplicate to the jail and to his home address, and to have a copy in reserve in case he chooses to be represented by a lawyer.
Disclosure is the package of investigative materials that the Crown puts together on the case.
“That’s not the way it works,” McKimm told Chapman.
Chapman also said he wanted the disclosure on paper, not on a computer disc, the usual way the Crown provides it.
Joel Gold, deputy regional Crown counsel, said the bigger issue is whether Chapman will be represented by a lawyer.
“We’re not going to provide disclosure to him and then to counsel if there’s some confirmation he’s going to be representing himself,” said Gold.
He estimated it would take three weeks for the first package of disclosure materials to be ready.
McKimm told the accused that if he wants to have a bail hearing, he has to make an application to B.C. Supreme Court.
“You should definitely phone the Legal Services Society and find out from them what information they have available to you,” said McKimm.
“The faster you can get legal advice and someone to talk to Mr. Gold, that would be of great assistance to you, I assure you.”
“Yes, no worries,” Chapman replied.
McKimm also told Chapman if he wanted disclosure on paper, he would have to contact the Crown office.
At Chapman’s first appearance, Judge Roger Cutler expressed concern that Chapman was not represented by a lawyer.
His next court appearance is scheduled for June 19 at 11 a.m.
