The man charged in the random stabbing of a driver at a downtown rail crossing more than a week ago is still without a lawyer.
Jose Nathan Lopes-Cajina made his second court appearance by way of video from the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre on Wednesday. The 19-year-old, outfitted in an orange jail-issued jumpsuit and light coloured face mask, told the court he has not yet retained legal counsel.
Lopes-Cajina is charged with attempted murder and assaulting a peace officer. He has been in custody since his arrest last Wednesday in connection with the unprovoked attack on Richmond Street near Piccadilly Street the day prior. According to London police, a driver was stopped in the southbound lanes waiting for a train to cross the tracks when a man got into his vehicle, stabbed him, and then ran away. The driver was able to pull his vehicle off of Richmond onto Piccadilly, where he called 911. He was taken to hospital with critical injuries.
After releasing several surveillance images of a suspect, police received information last Wednesday that a man matching the description was on a city bus in the area of Southdale and Wellington roads. A man was arrested nearby.
While at police headquarters, the man is alleged to have assaulted a police cadet, causing minor injuries.
During his two-minute court appearance, Lopes-Cajina told Justice of the Peace Monique Seguin he would look into hiring a lawyer over the next couple of days.
His case has been put over until next Tuesday to give him time to do so.
