An expected bail hearing today for the man accused of attempted murder at the boardwalk has been moved to Thursday at the request of his lawyers, so it can be aligned with his separate murder charge.
Steven Jones, age 25, appeared briefly by video in bail court on Monday. He has been in custody at Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre since his Sept. 7 arrest near the scene of the boardwalk attack.
Jones is facing two separate charges: one for the murder of 22-year-old Taylor Marshall and another for the attempted murder of a man on Sault Ste. Marie’s boardwalk.
The allegations against Jones have not been proven in court.
Details of evidence or testimony heard during the bail hearing are covered by a publication ban.
Court documents identify the boardwalk stabbing victim as Liam Frenette. Last week, Sault Police said the victim in that attack is now in stable condition.
SooToday has obtained a reader-submitted photo that appears to show Jones shirtless with bloodied shoes near the Station Mall, shortly after the boardwalk attack.
Jones appeared briefly in bail court on Friday in relation to the murder charge, with his next appearance expected in video remand court on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Appearing on behalf of Jones’ lawyer Bruce Willson, counsel Adrienne Hagan requested that the bail hearing for the attempted murder charge be married with the murder charge.
Willson is a long-serving defence lawyer in Sault Ste. Marie who has represented numerous clients, including Dylan Jocko in the Wesley Hallam killing.
The Crown is not consenting to Jones’ release in relation to both the murder and attempted murder charges.
Jones is entitled to a bail hearing for the attempted murder charge in which the Crown will need to provide a justice with reasons he should be denied a release. In regards to the murder charge, the matter calls for automatic detention with a reverse onus on the defence to prove why they should not be detained.
Jones was arrested near the scene of the boardwalk assault on Sept. 7. A few hours later police were called to an address on John Street when the body of 22-year-old Taylor Marshall was discovered.
In a press conference held Sept. 14, Insp. Brent Duguay, of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, told media that police linked Jones to the murder after discovering evidence that placed him "at or near" the John Street scene after his arrest at the boardwalk.