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The suspect in a home invasion robbery case where the bandit posed as a policeman will spend the rest of his trial behind bars, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Justice Chris Rickards agreed with Crown prosecutors Joe Mercier and Elaine Ng that the self-represented Armin Babic had done all he could to derail the case and it was time to revoke his bail.
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Babic, who had been commuting daily from Edmonton since his trial began last week, was not in court first thing Tuesday, instead appearing by phone to say he was at his doctor’s office awaiting a prescription for high blood pressure pills to be provided.
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He told Rickards he would be able to get to court by the beginning of the afternoon session at 2 p.m. and the Court of King’s Bench judge adjourned proceedings until then.
But when 2 p.m. rolled around Babic was still nowhere in sight and was called again.
He said he had returned home after his doctor’s appointment only to be arrested by an Edmonton Police Service officer on an outstanding warrant and was subsequently released on a promise to appear, but was now on the road to Calgary.
Rickards gave Babic until 3:30 p.m. to get to court, but after he arrived Mercier told Rickards the most recent delay was self-inflicted, as Babic had told the officer to meet him at his home to effect the arrest.
Mercier also said an ankle bracelet monitoring program Babic was supposed to pay for as a condition of his release had lapsed on Feb. 26, for non-payment.
“Mr. Babic called this officer to effect the warrant when he was supposed to be in court in Calgary,” Mercier said.
“He’s in breach of his release conditions,” the prosecutor added, of Babic allowing the monitoring payments to lapse.
“Mr. Babic should be arrested, his bail revoked and he should be in custody for the rest of his trial.”
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Rickards agreed, but Babic begged him to reconsider, insisting he had now secured accommodations in Calgary and wouldn’t have any future problems attending his hearing.
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The judge said if Babic could provide proof he had a place to stay he’d give him another night of freedom, but the accused could only show on his cellphone that he was in the process of trying to book an Airbnb.
“You’re going to be arrested, you’re going to be in custody until the end of your trial at least,” Rickards said, before court sheriffs took him to cells.
Babic, 41, is accused of breaking into an acreage west of De Winton on Nov. 19, 2019, and robbing the homeowner at gunpoint while firing a shot inside the residence and gaining access to the victim’s safe.
The robber escaped with jewelry, a handgun registered to the victim and more than $20,000 in U.S. cash.
In his opening statement last week, Mercier said Babic was arrested a short time after the robbery, with the stolen goods in the borrowed pickup he was driving.
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