TIMMINS - After consulting with a lawyer, a man accused of murder has decided to represent himself.
Lucas MacDonald appeared in court virtually today (Jan. 29) from the Monteith Correctional Complex.
During his last appearance, he indicated there had been delays in speaking with a defence lawyer. Instead of representing MacDonald, defence lawyer Ben Dawkins will act as a friend of the court, known as an amicus, and advise the accused.
MacDonald is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Marcel Thoma and attempted murder with a firearm in the shooting of an OPP officer during his arrest in June 2024.
None of the charges have been tested in court and he is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
Crown attorney Wayne O’Hanley is concerned that the proceedings are being delayed but agreed to adjourn until March 4 at 9:30 a.m. so that both Dawkins and MacDonald could conduct a council pre-trial and review the disclosed information before moving forward.
Thoma's body was found southwest of Matheson in May 2024, a week after he was reported missing.
A weeks-long manhunt stretching from Matheson to Timmins's far east end led police to MacDonald. During his arrest on June 12, 2024, he allegedly shot at OPP officers on Night Hawk Lake. One officer was shot in the exchange of gunfire.
A Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report cleared officers of any wrongdoing in the incident.