The man charged with attacking strangers with a machete outside a Vancouver hotel is going to trial in December.
Kenneth Stephen Solowan, 37, was arrested on Aug. 10 near Chinatown and made his first court appearance Aug. 17.
He is facing two charges of aggravated assault.
Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Patricia Bond heard Aug. 31 that Solowan and his lawyer Jonathan Desbarats have parted ways due to a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship.
“I have a new counsel,” Solowan said appearing by video. “Legal aid already approved it.”
The attack happened June 19, 2022 in front of the Empress Hotel in the Downtown Eastside when two people loading luggage into a taxi were attacked by a stranger.
Both of the victims suffered significant injuries and required hospitalization.
A Vancouver Police Department patrol officer was flagged down but the suspect fled immediately after the attack and investigators could only get a limited description.
Police said evidence, including security footage of a man fleeing the area, as well as tips from the public, helped detectives identify Solowan as a suspect.
Solowan was not in court due to video appearance problems at the pretrial centre.
Solowan was granted bail in August 2022 but immediately allegedly breached his conditions.
He was re-arrested several weeks later in Mission, when someone recognized him from a picture released by Vancouver police and reported the sighting.
Solowan remains in custody at North Fraser Pretrial Centre.
