“I don’t want any violence,” Justice Paul Belzil warned Justin Bone in Edmonton’s Court of King’s Bench on Friday, as the double-murder trial descended into fresh disruptions when the accused refused to leave his cell or answer prosecutors’ questions and fired his lawyer again.
The proceedings, which center on the May 18, 2022, deaths of 61-year-old Ban Phuc Hoang and 64-year-old Hung Trang in Edmonton’s Chinatown, stalled as Bone resisted standard courtroom protocols. Crown prosecutors were scheduled to begin cross-examining Bone regarding his previous testimony, but the 40-year-old accused told courthouse sheriffs he would not walk out of his holding cell while wearing shackles and handcuffs. Officers eventually removed the handcuffs while leaving the leg shackles in place, allowing the appearance to proceed before Belzil.
Bone Fires Defense Lawyer over Trust Issues
Bone spent a significant portion of the morning addressing the bench regarding ongoing grievances with his legal representation, specifically targeting defense lawyer David Wolsey. Bone has repeatedly dismissed and rehired Wolsey since the trial commenced in January. On Friday, Bone formalized the split once more, stating he had completely lost trust in the counsel assigned to him.
“I’m removing him because I have no trust in him,” Bone told the court, accusing Wolsey of misrepresenting his instructions and permitting inaccurate media reports regarding his background to circulate. The friction also involves events preceding the alleged homicides. Earlier in the proceedings, the public was shown RCMP footage depicting officers dropping Bone off in central Edmonton just days before the killings, a move that was contrary to his bail conditions.
Following the dismissal, Belzil asked Wolsey to attend Bone’s upcoming appearances. The judge also connected Bone with Derek Anderson, a lawyer appointed as amicus curiae—a friend of the court designated to assist complex cases and safeguard a fair trial when an accused lacks formal representation.
| Trial Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Charges | Two counts of second-degree murder |
| Victims | Ban Phuc Hoang (61), Hung Trang (64) |
| Incident Date | May 18, 2022 |
| Next Court Date | November 16 |
Evidence Submissions and Defense Material
With the cross-examination blocked by Bone’s refusal to participate, discussions shifted toward the introduction of alternative defense materials. Anderson consulted with the accused and informed the court that Bone had compiled a substantial quantity of documents, personal notes, maps, and a USB drive containing digital files. Anderson noted that additional records remained secured inside Bone’s cell at the Edmonton Remand Centre, which Bone colorfully described during the session as a “pillowcase full of papers.”
The presiding judge permitted the USB drive and select documents to be formally marked as exhibits. This step enables the Crown and other participating parties to review the contents, though admissibility remains subject to further judicial rulings. Belzil instructed Bone to bring the remaining documentation to the next session while reiterating that an accused person is under no legal obligation to call independent evidence.
The trial is scheduled to resume on November 16, at which point the court will determine whether cross-examination can proceed or if further procedural hurdles will delay the proceedings in the Court of King’s Bench.
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