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Man accused of assaulting handicapped man pleads not guilty

The man accused of beating a handicapped man with a metre-long steel pipe plead not guilty at the Nakusp Provincial Court.

The man accused of beating a handicapped man with a metre-long steel pipe plead not guilty at the Nakusp Provincial Court.

The accused’s lawyer Ken Wyllie appeared on behalf of James Fraser, 26, at the courthouse last Thursday, Feb. 24.

They set a trial date of March 30 and 31 in Nakusp with a trial confirmation taking place in Nelson on March 8.

Fraser is facing four separate charges for allegedly committing assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, theft and breaking and entering.

In documents obtained by the Arrow Lakes News, they state the steel pipe Fraser allegedly used to beat the victim was one metre long. It also shows sixty pills of morphine were the only thing stolen.

RCMP previously stated the incident was related to a drug theft. 

Fraser was caught by police after they executed an unrelated search warrant for a stolen snowmobile at another residence in Nakusp.

When police entered, they found Fraser and the unnamed resident of the house. They arrested him, and the snowmobile was confirmed to be stolen from the Okanagan.

Police have not released any more information on that incident since no charges have been laid at this point.

A press release from by RCMP states the assailant broke into the victim’s house as he slept and beat him with the pipe until the victim handed over the morphine.

Police say the violent home invasion happened at 1 a.m. on Feb. 11.

RCMP say the victim uses morphine to treat injuries to his legs that have left him walking with a cane and unable to work.

Police have stated the victim is a 52-year-old man who currently resides in Nakusp.

The victim is reported to have suffered a broken hand, shoulder blade, collar bone and left with a concussion.

Check back to www.arrowlakesnews.com for more information as it becomes available.