Former Acadia University professor Rick Mehta, charged with threatening employees of the province’s justice department, spoke in court Wednesday after refusing to do so last last month. Photo by Contributed /ContributedArticle contentFormer Acadia University professor Rick Mehta, who stood mute in Kentville provincial court at his last appearance in July, had more to say Wednesday, but the judge kept Mehta’s comments to the minimum required.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentMehta, 55, is charged with making threats to members of the staff at the Kentville Justice Centre in general, as well as against one specific employee in Kentville and another in Halifax.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAt his last appearance, Mehta didn’t speak, he just passed a piece of paper to a lawyer who happened to be there. It spoke about things not related to the case, including his definitions of the difference between a person and a human person, and the concepts of rights, power privileges, dignity and worth and how they apply to the definitions.Article contentHe was scheduled to make a plea Wednesday but wanted to give some papers to the court.Article content“I have some documents,” he said when his name was called.Article content“No documents at this time, thank you. This is just a plea day,” Judge Chris Manning responded. “Are you ready to enter a plea to the two charges before the court?”Article contentMehta was not.Article content“As an innocent man, why would I enter a plea when I’ve already been through a wrongful conviction proceeding once?” he said to the judge. “I’ve already pointed out . . . quite directly that we know professional misconduct is a cause of wrongful conviction so why would I enter a plea?”Article contentArticle contentManning interrupted him at that point.Article contentArticle content“Hold it there, thank you. You’ve told me you’re an innocent man so I’ll enter pleas of not guilty on your behalf,” he said.Article contentThere have been no wrongful conviction hearings in Mehta’s previous case.Article contentMehta was arrested by Kentville Police on May 22 and charged with uttering threats on April 28 and May 13 this year.Article contentManning set the trial for Nov. 19.Article contentMehta is free on an undertaking that includes having no direct contact with two employees of the Kentville Justice Centre and one justice system worker in Halifax, and not going anywhere they are or might be.Article contentHe was convicted last September on nine of 15 counts of breaching undertakings and court orders that were connected to release conditions he was under after being charged with three counts of uttering threats to Acadia University professor Jeff Hennessy and his wife in August 2023.
Former Acadia prof Mehta breaks self-imposed silence at latest court appearance
