10-day trial booked for attempted murder
Ten days have been set aside for the trial of a Woodstock woman charged with attempted murder.
Destiny Dawn Innis, 23, of Woodstock, will stand trial by judge alone at the Court of King’s Bench beginning on Oct. 18, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
The Crown intends to call a number of expert witnesses during the proceedings. A series of voir dire hearings will be held from July 19-23, 2027, to examine the admissibility of certain evidence before the trial. Defence Counsel is Fredericton lawyer T.J. Burke.
Innis was charged by Woodstock Police following a violent altercation at a downtown residence on Oct. 20, 2025, when a 74-year-old woman was assaulted and stabbed in her home.
Following a bail hearing, Innis was released from custody under house arrest at a residence at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). She has no prior criminal record.
The victim was transported to the Upper River Valley Hospital and later transferred to the Saint John Regional Hospital with serious injuries. Woodstock Police, the Woodstock Fire Department and Ambulance New Brunswick were called to her home on Houlton Street around 9 p.m.
Arrested and released
Allison Lee Demerchant, 67, of Florenceville-Bristol, will appear in provincial court on July 7 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on three charges laid by the RCMP.
Demerchant was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, committing mischief, and breach of an undertaking following an incident in Florenceville-Bristol. He appeared in court via video in custody for a bail hearing on June 2 and was released with conditions.
Fredericton man requests bail
Blake Evan Donald Wilson, 33, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court in custody via video on June 24 at 9:30 a.m. for a bail hearing on multiple charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Wilson was charged with break and enter at Canadian Tire, mischief causing property damage to a fence, and breach of a release order (no contact) on March 23 in Woodstock. He was also charged with fraudulent impersonation, resisting arrest, and breach of a release order (no contact) in connection with another incident on March 22 in Woodstock. The court heard Wilson also had a court appearance on other charges in Fredericton.
All matters were adjourned for plea until July 22 at 1:30 p.m. The court heard a resolution was being sought with the Crown.
In custody on 12 charges
Mason Darren Bustard, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on June 22 to answer a raft of charges. He returns to court in custody for plea on July 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Bustard was charged with flight from police and mischief causing property damage to a lawn at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation); breach of probation, possession of a stolen truck, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a knife), and breaching a release order in Woodstock; two counts of breaching his release order and mischief causing damage to his ankle bracelet in Bloomfield; and flight from police and theft of fuel in Florenceville-Bristol. All of the incidents are alleged to have taken place on April 30.
On June 16, he was also charged with theft of a motor vehicle from the Legacy Ford dealership in Woodstock on April 30.
He also appeared in provincial court on April 14 to answer three other charges laid by Woodstock Police. That matter was also adjourned for plea until July 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Bustard was charged with possession of stolen property, possession of break-in tools and breach of probation in connection with a rash of vehicle break-ins on April 7-8 in the Elizabeth Street, Creighton Street and Rose Court areas.
Trial set on several charges
Brandon Travis Hamilton, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on June 23 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was booked for Aug. 19, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring hearing was also set for Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he has legal counsel to proceed.
Hamilton appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 25 and was released with conditions. He was charged with possession of two stolen snowmobiles, dangerous driving, fleeing police, driving while suspended, possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, in connection with an incident on Feb. 24 in Florenceville-Bristol.
At an earlier court appearance, Hamilton also pleaded not guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle and two counts of driving while suspended on June 9, 2025, in Woodstock. His trial on the stolen property charge was set for June 9, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Another trial for the two alleged driving offences was set for Feb. 22, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Coldstream man facing sex charges
Donald Grant Ealey, 66, of Coldstream, will appear in provincial court on July 14 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three sex charges laid by the RCMP.
Ealey was charged with sexual assault, touching for a sexual purpose, and engaging a minor in sexual activity in connection with incidents between May 1, 2025, and Feb. 2, 2026, at Howard Brook. He appeared in court on June 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Chipman man charged
Hunter Michael Kilfillen, 26, of Chipman, will appear in provincial court on July 14 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Kilfillen was charged with refusing a breathalyzer and with mischief for interfering with a police camera, in connection with an incident on Jan. 5 in Woodstock. He appeared in court on June 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Facing sex charge
Mitchell Michael Diamond, 21, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on July 14 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a sex charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Diamond was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Aug. 9, 2025, in Woodstock. He appeared in court on June 23 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Awaiting plea on two charges
Rocky Anthony Tucker, 50, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on July 28 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Tucker was charged with assault involving a female victim on May 8 and breach of an undertaking (no-contact) on May 13 in Woodstock. He appeared in court on June 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged with assault
Amy Rennie, 42, of Woodstock, was scheduled to appear in provincial court on June 23 for a monitoring hearing after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
She did not appear, but her defence counsel confirmed the trial could proceed on May 10, 2027, at 1:30 p.m. Rennie was charged with assaulting a male victim on Jan. 3 in Rosedale.
Not-guilty plea
Ryan Woodward, 42, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court on June 23 and pleaded not guilty to one charge laid by the RCMP. His trial was scheduled for Aug. 19, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Woodward was charged with breaking into a dwelling house t on Jan. 31 in Hartland. A monitoring hearing was set for Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he will have legal counsel for the trial.
Woodward also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 24 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by local police. Trial dates were scheduled for May 25, 2027, at 9:30 a.m., June 20, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. and March 3, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Woodward was charged with three counts of driving while suspended on Aug. 21 and Aug. 23, 2025, at Wakefield and on Sept. 3, 2025, in Woodstock. He will appear for trial on those charges on June 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
He was also charged with dangerous driving and flight from police on Sept. 3, 2025.
Not guilty of identity theft
Christopher Isaiah Eatmon, 31, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 24 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to four charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Eatmon was charged with two counts of forgery related to a First Nations status card, identity theft, and fraudulent impersonation for an incident on Oct. 7, 2024, in Woodstock.
Three sets of charges
Joshua Alexander Russell, 36, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on June 24 at 9:30 a.m. for a monitoring hearing about his trial.
Russell is scheduled to stand trial in provincial court on June 30, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to seven charges laid by Woodstock Police.
He was charged with assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, two counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, mischief causing property damage to a wall, and breach of a release order following an incident in Woodstock on Feb. 7. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainants.
He appeared in provincial court via video in custody on Feb. 12 for a bail hearing and was released on conditions to a rehab facility in Nova Scotia.
Russell also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 3 and pleaded not guilty to a breach charge. His trial was set for Jan. 13, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Russell was charged by Woodstock Police with breaching his release order stemming from an incident between Dec. 11 and Dec. 12, 2025, in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court via video in custody on Dec. 16, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. Russell also pleaded not guilty to six other charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Jan. 13-14, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Russell was charged with two counts of breaking into a dwelling house, breach of an emergency intervention order, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, and driving while suspended in connection with an incident on Sept. 21, 2025, in Woodstock. He has a prior criminal record.
Trial in August
Cole Wade Gray, 24, of Upper Kintore, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP.
He appeared in court on June 23 for a monitoring hearing and told the court he was still without legal counsel for his trial.
Gray pleaded not guilty to theft of lumber between July 21, 2023, and July 23, 2023, in Johnville. Another charge of unlawful entry at a dwelling house was withdrawn by the Crown. He also pleaded not guilty to breaching curfew and breaching a release order between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, 2023, at Aroostook.
Gray also pleaded not guilty to two counts of mischief and uttering threats concerning an incident on March 18, 2025, at Lower Kintore. He was released on an undertaking until his trial on Aug. 21.
Trial continues
Cindy Demerchant, 53, of Lower Kintore, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 10 at 9:30 a.m. for the continuation of her trial on a theft charge.
Demerchant was charged with break and enter and theft of food and money from Tim Hortons in Perth-Andover between May 9 and May 31, 2024. She pleaded not guilty.
Evidence presented by the Crown at trial included video surveillance from the restaurant. Testimony from staff revealed that Demerchant was an employee who allegedly entered the premises after hours.
Refusing a breathalyzer
Lindsay Harris, 22, of Waterville, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m. for the continuation of her trial on a breathalyzer charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Harris pleaded not guilty to refusing a breathalyzer in connection with an incident on Dec. 29, 2024, in Lower Woodstock. The first segment of her trial was held on June 19.
Sentencing set
Bianca Laqua, 35, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 19 and changed her plea to guilty on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Laqua was charged with refusing a breathalyzer in connection with an incident on Sept. 21, 2024, in Woodstock. Her sentencing date was booked for Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Lincoln woman charged
Emily Grace Meadows, 24, of Lincoln, will appear in provincial court on July 14 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Meadows was charged with impaired driving and refusing a breathalyzer demand. She was scheduled for plea on June 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Multiple trial dates
Zachery Don Brooks, 21, of Lower Brighton, has a series of trials coming up in provincial court on a slew of charges laid by the RCMP.
Brooks pleaded not guilty to 20 charges, and trial dates were set for June 24 at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 20 at 9:30 a.m., and Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Brooks was charged by RCMP with five counts of assault involving a female victim, four counts of assault by choking, three counts of unlawful confinement, two counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a phone cord), assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, mischief causing damage to a cell phone, and two counts of breaching a release order (no contact).
The charges were laid in connection with a series of incidents on Nov. 24, 2024, Feb. 12, Feb. 17, May 28, June 9, June 10 and June 11, 2025, in Lower Brighton; on June 3 and June 5, 2025, in Hartland, and on Feb. 19, 2025, in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court on May 19 and pleaded not guilty to six more charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was booked for July 12, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring hearing was also set for March 16, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
He pleaded not guilty to breaching a no-contact order, uttering threats, assault involving a female victim, assault with a weapon (a broom and a board), assault by choking and mischief causing property damage to a cell phone on Oct. 28, 2025, at Lower Brighton.
