Another lawyer representing a Saskatoon woman accused in numerous bomb threats and suspicious package deliveries has stepped down.
Lawyer Lisa Watson, who took on Alexa Emerson as a client after the 31-year-old lost two other lawyers in April, announced her withdrawal Thursday, citing a conflict of interest. She said she’s represented one of the witnesses in the case in the past.
Emerson, who’s also known as Amanda Totchek, is facing more than 80 charges in connection with at least eight bomb threats and the delivery of more than a dozen suspicious packages over the last few months. She’s also charged with criminal harassment, public mischief and providing false information related to an incident in October in which she’s accused of sending videos depicting herself being bound, assaulted and threatened in order to mislead a police officer, court documents show.
One of her lawyers, Brian Pfefferle, withdrew from the case last month after his office received one of the suspicious packages, and her next legal counsel, Morris Bodnar, stepped down shortly after taking over. He said he was worried the case may last longer than he initially anticipated.
CTV’s count of charges against Emerson tied to the suspicious packages and bomb threats was 75 as of last week, but a Crown prosecutor said Thursday the number is now 83.
The prosecutor said the new charges are connected with bomb threats, a suspicious package delivery and an email with an attached video sent to schools in Hague and Warman.
The case involves a total of 250 witnesses, according to the prosecutor. Students at the schools are not included in the number.
Emerson has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
A bail hearing was scheduled for Thursday, but was adjourned with news Watson was stepping down.
Emerson will now be seeking legal aid.
--- with files from Jen Jellicoe
