TIMMINS - The courts are waiting one more week to find out who will represent an accused murderer who was the focus of a three-week manhunt last year.
Lucas MacDonald appeared in court virtually today (Jan. 22) from the Monteith Correctional Complex. At his last court appearance on Jan. 3, he indicated he was talking to a defence lawyer but has not spoken to or retained counsel yet.
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.
Justice Michel Robert LaBelle said that if MacDonald had not retained a lawyer by his next appearance on Jan. 29, arrangements would be made to appoint an amicus to the case.
An amicus, or ‘friend of the court,’ is a lawyer who can advise the court or a self-represented individual during a case. An amicus does not represent the person, they advise and can not act as their lawyer.
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 recent SUI report cleared officers of any wrongdoing in the incident.
