Peace bond proceedings against Guelph blogger Bill Manderson on behalf of a Wellington County councillor and the county’s chief administrative officer have been delayed by a week.
On Feb. 2, justice of the peace Walter Rojek granted crown attorney Marten Dykstra a week to review the case, since Dykstra said his office does not yet have disclosure.
It is unclear if the Crown or a private lawyer will prosecute the case.
Sarit Batner, representing county councillor Brad Whitcombe and CAO Scott Wilson, agreed to the delay.
Whitcombe and Wilson have filed for a peace bond against Manderson which, if granted, will require Manderson to keep the peace and be of good behaviour in relation to Whitcombe and Wilson for a 12 month period, or face criminal charges.
In court documents Whitcombe and Wilson claimed they have grounds to fear personal injury or damage to their property based on alleged threats made by Manderson over the last two years on his website, and in over 150 letters.
Specific comments attributed to Manderson in court documents include, “I sense the reaper, again, is at hand and will do his will.” Another says, “The penalty for your breach of trust goes beyond Section 122 of the Criminal Code and I shall administer as is my duty.”
On Monday Manderson tried to submit a prepared statement to the court, though Rojek said such a move is premature.
“We don’t even know who will be your opponent in this case,” Rojek told Manderson. He added the court cannot receive any statement and said the case will resume on Feb. 9.
Manderson was also to appear in Superior Court on Feb. 6 in regards to a $2.4-million libel lawsuit filed by Whitcombe and Wilson, although results of that hearing were not known by press time.
That matter was previously delayed to grant Manderson time to find a lawyer.
On his website, Manderson alleges wrongdoing – financial and otherwise – on behalf of the county officials in matters such as the Carroll Pond municipal drain, the resurfacing of Winston Churchill Boulevard, the county’s Green Legacy tree nursery and others.
None of the charges against Manderson have been proven in court.
