New BrunswickNelson Peters was recently appointed to represent Bard in his financial crimes trial in Moncton after a previous lawyer’s health concerns caused a mistrial. Now, Peters says he may have health issues as the court prepares to hear arguments about Bard’s right to a timely trial.Nelson Peters was appointed to Bard’s fraud trial in June after Bard’s last lawyer withdrew for health issuesKatelin Belliveau · CBC News · Posted: Aug 25, 2025 12:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoDaniel Bard, 60, is set to stand trial for a second time on 19 alleged financial crimes in Moncton provincial court, when his lawyer, Nelson Peters, says he will present arguments about his right to a timely trial. (Katelin Belliveau/CBC News)The second trial of a man accused of financial crimes in Moncton could soon hit more roadblocks because of potential health concerns of his newly appointed lawyer.Daniel Bard is set to be tried in September on 19 alleged offences, including fraud, theft, possession of property obtained by crime, and money laundering.Nelson Peters was appointed as Bard’s new lawyer in June after his previous defence lawyer withdrew from the case over his own health issues. New lawyer and trial dates for N.B. man accused of financial crimes Mistrial in Daniel Bard’s fraud trial, new lawyer to be appointed Peters told Judge Anne Richard in Moncton provincial court on Monday that he was “not going to be ready to proceed on Sept. 15,” and that he was worried health concerns could keep him from completing the anticipated four-week trial.Nelson Peters, who was appointed to Bard’s case in June, declined to give comment to reporters outside court on Aug. 25. (Pascal Raiche-Nogue/Radio-Canada)He told Richard he has an appointment with a doctor in early September before the trial is set to begin, when he hopes to get his doctor’s opinion on whether “this isn’t a good idea for me to do.”Bard, who is 60, sat silently behind his lawyer in court.Peters also said he intends to file a Rowbotham application to have the government fund a second defence lawyer to assist him in the case should he move forward. A Rowbotham application is a request that the government pay for a lawyer when a person is denied legal aid.Peters is currently being paid by the province to represent Bard.Crown lawyer Chris Ryan said Monday it would be “a good idea” to have another lawyer assist Peters, and that Bard deserves a fair trial.Richard replied by saying should the application be made, and that both lawyers, including Peters, would need to be present and able to proceed for the duration of the trial.”I don’t want an in-between,” she said. “The court wants to be confident that we can proceed.”Richard set a deadline of Sept. 10 for Peters to provide a written update to the court and the Crown on the state of his health moving forward.Peters, Ryan and Bard all declined to comment outside court on Monday.Jordan arguments to be heard next monthPeters told the court Monday that while health concerns could pose a concern for him down the line, he would be prepared to present arguments on Bard’s Jordan application.The 2016 Supreme Court of Canada ruling on R. vs. Jordan states that most trials in provincial court should be mostly complete within 18 months of charges being laid, with certain exceptions. Going past that timeline can result in charges being stayed.Bard was charged in 2022, and was originally set to go on trial in late 2023, but the trial was rescheduled when he parted ways with his lawyer. Richard said she’s conscious of the timeline, and that she has rescheduled other matters on her docket in the past to try and have the case heard in a “reasonable amount of time.”The court reserved three days for Bard’s Jordan application hearing, beginning on Sept. 15.ABOUT THE AUTHORKatelin Belliveau is a CBC reporter based in Moncton.
Daniel Bard’s new lawyer warns of potential health issues, putting 2nd trial in question
