Legal Challenges Continue in Moncton fraud Case Against Daniel Bard
The trial of Daniel Bard, accused of financial crimes relating to his time with a Moncton economic growth agency, faces further delays as his current lawyer, Nelson Peters, seeks to be removed from the case. Bard is accused of receiving thousands of dollars from local business owners and individuals for services promised through the agency, allegedly failing to deliver on those promises and subsequently disappearing.
This is not the first time a defense lawyer has attempted to withdraw from Bard’s case. A similar request from his previous counsel, James Matheson, led to a mistrial in June.
During a hearing on September 15th, Bard directly requested Judge Anne Richard remove peters. Peters explained to the court that he suffers from an autoimmune disease exacerbated by intense stress, possibly causing permanent vision damage, and presented a doctor’s note – though it did not specify his condition or confirm him as the patient.
Judge Richard denied the request,citing the need to “maintain the public’s trust” in the judicial system and emphasizing the importance of moving the case forward. She acknowledged the limited evidence provided – only the brief, unsigned doctor’s note. Peters indicated he may file a second motion for removal, “perhaps with better evidence.”
Peters also raised an ethical concern, stating he had become a witness in the case after receiving an affidavit detailing a private conversation with another lawyer regarding Bard’s Jordan application. A jordan application challenges the timeliness of the trial, referencing a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that sets reasonable limits for trial completion – generally 18 months for provincial court cases.
The Crown stated they do not intend to call Peters to testify.
The hearing focused on Bard’s Jordan application, arguing the trial has taken too long to proceed. Bard was initially charged in 2022 and was scheduled for trial in 2023 before his previous lawyer departed.
recordings of previous hearings were played in court, including those from April, where Matheson disclosed experiencing medical symptoms like vertigo and was advised by a doctor to take leave. Judge Richard had adjourned proceedings multiple times to accommodate matheson’s requests. Matheson’s co-counsel, Tim Dubé, eventually assumed greater duty in the case before also taking medical leave, ultimately contributing to the mistrial.
The hearing is set to continue Tuesday, with further arguments expected from both the defence and the Crown regarding the Jordan application. A tentative retrial date has been set for january 26, 2026, pending the outcome of the current hearing.
