The man accused of intentionally running down a Muslim family in London, killing four and injuring one, is still trying to hire a lawyer to represent him.
Nathaniel Veltman appeared in London court via video link from the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre on Monday morning. The brief proceedings lasted less than a minute and a half. The court was told Veltman has been in contact with Toronto defence lawyer Christopher Hicks. Despite being a Toronto criminal lawyer, Hicks is known in the London region. He represented one of the six men convicted of first degree murder in 2009 in the notorious Bandidos murder trial.
An agent acting on behalf of Hicks requested the case be put over one week in order to "finalize the retainer" of counsel.
The only words Veltman spoke during the appearance were "thank you" after Justice of the Peace Dan MacDonald informed him his case would be adjourned until June 28.
The appearance was Veltman's fourth since the June 6 fatal hit-and-run in northwest London.
At the 20-year-old's last appearance a week ago, it was announced both federal and provincial prosecutors had consented to moving forward with terrorism proceedings against him under section 82 of the Criminal Code.
Veltman was charged with four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder the day after the attack on the Afzaal family. Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and 9-year-old son Fayez Salman, and Salman Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother Talat Afzaal were out for an evening walk when a pickup truck mounted the curb at Hyde Park and South Carriage roads and hit them before speeding off. Fayez Salman was the lone survivor of the attack. He was released from hospital last week.
Veltman was arrested shortly after the family was struck, roughly seven kilometers from the collision scene.
London police have said there is evidence the killings were a planned, premeditated act, motivated by hate.
A publication ban on the evidence presented in the case has been put in place.
