Hotel stabbing back in Fernie court

Hotel stabbing back in Fernie court

Livan Chris Barnett has been charged with aggravated assault over the October 22 incident

The man who allegedly stabbed a hotel patron in Fernie in October is set to appear in court Thursday.

Livan Chris Barnett has been charged with aggravated assault over the incident that occurred at Fernie’s Super 8 Motel on October 22.

LOOK BACK: Police seek witnesses to Fernie motel stabbing

He is also facing a PSP (Possession of Stolen Property) of under $5000, taking or occupying a vehicle or vessel without consent of the owner, failure to appear pursuant to appearance notice, a transfer of probation order from out of province, as well as a breach of probation order. The charges relate to offences allegedly committed between November 2017 and October 2018.

The Free Press previously reported that Mohamed Minta was attacked while eating breakfast at the Fernie Super 8 on the morning of October 22. Minta was allegedly approached from behind and stabbed in the side of the head with an unknown object.

LOOK BACK: Fernie stabbing victim recalls attack

He was taken to Elk Valley Hospital where he received stitches. Barnett allegedly fled the scene before police arrived.

Elk Valley RCMP obtained security footage of the event and about an hour later, Barnett was arrested outside his Fernie residence, approximately one kilometre from the motel.

Barnett appeared in court the following day, charged with aggravated assault over the incident, which the Crown prosecutor described as “a random act of violence”.

He was to be sent to Vancouver for a mental health assessment with a bail hearing scheduled for December 6.

More to come.

The Free Press