Tara Gault, accused of assaulting Andrew Younger, has case adjourned

Former Liberal staffer Tara Gault, accused of assaulting cabinet minister Andrew Younger, was not in court for her arraignment Wednesday morning.

She was, instead, represented by her lawyer.

Defence lawyer Joel Pink asked for an adjournment until March 18. No plea was entered Wednesday.

Gault is accused of assaulting Younger on Oct. 22, 2013, the day the Liberals officially took power from the NDP.

Younger and other members of Premier Stephen McNeil's cabinet were sworn in that morning in Annapolis Royal.

Younger is currently on leave from his position as minister of energy.

The premier's office has cited the reason as "personal matters" after granting the leave on Dec. 23, but neither it nor Younger have detailed what that means.

Michel Samson, minister of economic development, has taken over responsibility for Younger's portfolio.

Younger's additional cabinet pay was suspended earlier this month and his leave extended.

The alleged assault was not reported at the time, but police learned of it during a separate investigation into death threats that targeted Younger in November.

The two-page rant, written in capital letters, came as Bill 6 — which prohibits hydraulic fracturing for onshore oil and gas — was passing through the legislature.

The writer accuses Younger of banning "a way to make jobs," and a crudely drawn message suggests he should die.