By Kirk Starratt
NovaNewsNow.com
A pre-trial hearing has been held for a Yarmouth man who will have a dangerous offender application hearing next year.
Gordon Frank Nickerson was present in Kentville Provincial Court Dec. 10 for the pre-trial proceedings. The court had ordered a pre-sentence report and the matters were adjourned to Dec. 19 for a status report.
Nickerson’s dangerous offender application hearing has been scheduled for April 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 30 and May 1 and 2, 2013.
Nickerson, who pled guilty to all 12 charges against him April 16, has consented to being remanded in custody until the hearing. A court-ordered dangerous offender assessment and report have been completed. The Crown made an application to the court earlier this year to have Nickerson declared a dangerous offender.
Nickerson was arrested Feb. 29 after fleeing the scene of a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Commercial Street and Middle Dyke Road in New Minas. Nickerson had assaulted and abducted two women from the Yarmouth area, who were in the vehicle he was driving.
Nickerson was charged with two counts of kidnapping; four charges relating to various sexual assaults, two involving the use of a weapon; breaking and entering a house and committing the indictable offence of kidnapping and breaching a peace bond in Wedgeport Feb. 29.
Nickerson is charged also with two counts of assault; dangerous driving and failing to stop after being involved in an accident with the intent of escaping civil or criminal liability in New Minas Feb. 29.
The court has ordered a publication ban on the names of the victims and any information leading to their identities.
