YARMOUTH, N.S. –
Three people charged with attempted murder following an alleged stabbing incident in Shelburne — in which some of the accused are also the victims — remain in custody following their first court appearance and have been ordered not to communicate with one another while in custody.
The three men — Cade Alexander Benham, 24; Matthew James Jackson, 31; and Yan Franklin Cox, 46, all from Shelburne County — made their first court appearances in provincial court in Yarmouth following their arrests after reported stabbings took place in a Clements Street apartment unit in Shelburne on Dec. 27.
While their court appearances were set for 9:30 a.m., it wasn’t until the noon hour that they appeared before provincial court Judge James Burrill, as it took a few hours to sort things out with legal representation for their first court appearances.
The court appearances themselves were very brief, lasting only a couple of minutes each.
It was stated in court that the Crown will be opposing their release from custody.
For the time being, all three men consented to remain in custody until their next court appearances, which are on separate days in provincial court in Shelburne when show-cause/bail hearings are slated.
The RCMP say they received a 911 call at about 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 27, saying that a stabbing had taken place inside an apartment on Clements Street. The police have said an altercation took place among the men and two suffered serious injuries.
All three face a charge of attempted murder.
According to court documents, Cade Alexander Benham, 24, of Bulkley Street, Shelburne, is charged with attempting to murder Yan Cox by stabbing him with a knife. Benham also faces a charge of aggravated assault for endangering’s Cox’s life, along with charges of assault with a weapon and failure to comply with court undertakings. In court, Benham was sporting bandages on his right hand. He is slated to return to provincial court in Shelburne on Jan. 2.
Yan Franklin Cox, 46, whose address is listed as 175 Clements St., Apartment A, is accused of attempting to murder Cade Benham by stabbing him with a knife. He’s also charged with assault and aggravated assault on Benham. Another charge before the court alleges he failed to comply with a court-ordered recognizance or undertaking. In court, Cox’s face appeared bruised and swollen and it looked as if there were cuts on the side of his face. The RCMP have not released descriptions of the injuries received in the Dec. 27 incident.
Cox’s next provincial court appearance is set for Jan. 3 in Shelburne.
Matthew James Jackson, 31, whose address is listed as Black Point Road in Ingomar, Shelburne County, is accused of trying to murder Cade Benham by stabbing him with a knife, according to the charge before the court. He is also charged with assault with a weapon and aggravated assault, with Benham listed as the victim of both charges. Jackson also faces three breach of probation charges. His next provincial court appearance is slated for Jan. 16 in Shelburne.
The RCMP are still investigating this incident and in a Dec. 30 media release asked anyone with information on the incident to contact the Shelburne RCMP at 902-875-2490. Should people wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.
Because the three men remain in custody — and due to the configuration of the Yarmouth Justice Centre when people are in custody — they were not walked through any public areas of the courthouse. Instead, they were kept in a secure holding area within the courthouse building as they awaited their court appearances. They were escorted to and from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies, via a secure route that is not accessible to the public.
