Jeffrey Gillis, former RCMP officer, to challenge legality of search warrant

A former RCMP officer who is facing weapons charges is challenging the legality of the search warrant that resulted in 12 weapons charges.

• Shot guns, semi-automatic among firearms listed in charges against former RCMP officer

Jeffrey Rae Gillis, 43, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On Monday defence lawyer Jonathan Coady requested a hearing date for the challenge before Gillis' trial begins.

Seeking a different judge

He also told Judge Nancy Orr thatGillis wants a different judge to preside over the trial for the weapons charges. Judge Orr is alreadyhandling a separate case in which Gillis is charged with assault.

• RCMP Const. Jeffrey Rae Gillis charged with assault

Gillis is being represented by lawyer T.J. Burke of Fredericton. Neither Burke nor Gillis were in court, and Coady was there to represent them.

"I'm just the messenger," Coady told the judge when questioned about the Gillis' intention to seek another judge to hear the weapons charges.

'Every time we meet, this thing gets bigger'

Crown attorney David O'Brien told court 45 to 55 witnesses might be called to testify for the prosecution in the weapons case. That number caught the judge's attention

"Every time we meet, this thing gets bigger," Orr told court.

Orr has scheduled a pre-trial next month to sort out details ofthe weapons case before it goes to trial. She said she will conduct the pre-trial and a different judge might conduct the formal trial at a later date.

She slated the trial relating to the assault charges for November.

'This is like a chicken and egg thing'

The challenge to the legality of the search warrant will be handled as yetanother separate matter. No date has been set to deal with the challenge, but Orr told court it has to happen before the pre-trial takes place. She said she would consult the defence and prosecution in a conference call later this week to set the date for the search warrant challenge.

"This is like a chicken and egg thing," she said. "One depends on the other."

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