New date set for Teskey trial

Anew trial date has been set in Edmonton for a man whose dangerous offenderstatus was revoked afterthe Supreme Court overturned abeating conviction.

Leo Matthew Teskeydidn't appearin an Edmonton courtroomFridaymorning, buthis trial date on an aggravated assault chargewas set for Dec. 10.

Teskey was found guilty in 2002 of attacking apartment manager Dougald Miller, who had tried to escort a man out of the building where he had been found sleeping in the hallway.

Miller, then 61, suffered a broken nose, jaw and skull in the beating in November 2000. One of his ears was torn off and had to be reattached. He was left brain damaged and paralyzed from the neck down.

In February 2005, Teskey was declared a dangerous offender.

Last month, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the conviction for Miller's beating, largely because the trial judge took more than 11 months to deliver his written reasons for the verdict. The decision also means Teskey is no longer designated as a dangerous offender.

Lesley Miller, the victim's wife,went to courtFriday, calledTeskey a coward, and said she wasn't surprised Teskey failed to appear in court.

"Once I know he is locked up for good, then I can breathe a sigh of relief," she said.

Miller and Alberta's justice minister have both filed official complaints about provincial court Judge Brad Kerby, who originally tried this case.