Bishop gets new lawyer after Martin falls ill

Chris Bishop will have a new lawyer for his trial on three counts of first-degree murder.

Toronto-based lawyer Scott Cowan takes over for Calvin Martin, who is 76 and now in poor health, Cowan said in an interview.

Bishop fought for months to convince the Nunavut Legal Services Board to pay for Martin, who specializes in gun control and self-defence cases.

Bishop faces three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with a January, 2007, shooting in Cambridge Bay that killed Keith Atatahak, Kevin Komaksiut and Dean Costa. Two other people were wounded in the incident.

Cowan said he too believes Bishop’s is a self-defence case. He added he already has a restricted appearance certificate, which allows him to practice law in Nunavut.

Bishop’s trial is slated for May, and Cowan said the change of lawyers won’t affect that time line.

Martin was also planning to file an application to change the trial venue from Cambridge Bay to Iqaluit.

Cowan declined to comment on that issue. There’s still no date set for that hearing.