A man facing manslaughter in a 2020 killing at a Victoria supportive housing complex has fired his lawyer and reneged on a plea deal.
George Thurrott appeared in court on Friday (June 29) expected to enter a guilty plea in the death of Royburne Osmond, who he is accused of attacking at a Victoria supportive housing complex run by the Cool Aid organization.
Crown counsel is now back to pursuing the original second-degree murder charge.
It is alleged that Thurrott attacked Osmond with a weapon at the supportive housing complex in the former Tally Ho Motel on Douglas Street on March 16, 2020.
Osmond ended up in the hospital with critical injuries. Police arrested Thurrott two days later, but released him shortly afterwards without charge.
Osmond died less than 10 days later, and Thurrott was arrested in Ontario on April 8, 2022. He has remained in custody on Vancouver Island since.
His attorney, Kevin Westell told the court how surprised he was to hear Thurrott's decision on the Friday morning. Westell had worked on the case as Thurrott's attorney for two years before being let go that morning.
He told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Power that Thurrott gave him the impression there was no way to salvage the relationship.
"He has reaffirmed his decision," Westell told the court.
Power instructed Thurrott to work expeditiously to find a new lawyer. He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 10.