Sudbury murder suspect wants to take back his guilty plea

Hatinder Sharma seeks government assistance for legal representation after requesting to withdraw his guilty plea in his wife's murder.

The legal saga continued Friday for a Sudbury man charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife exactly three years ago.

Hatinder Sharma, 37, was charged in the death of 27-year-old Kanika Arora, who was found dead in a Spruce Street home on Aug 11, 2022.

A police release from that time did not say how she died. Sharma pleaded guilty to the crime in March, but changed his mind in June and wanted his plea struck from the records.

At that point, his lawyer asked to be removed from the case citing “irreconcilable differences.”

Lawyer withdrew from the case

The lawyer told Justice Patrick Boucher the relationship between him and Sharma made it “impossible” for him to continue representing him.

During that June court date, Sharma told the judge that he doesn’t always understand certain English words. A Hindi interpreter was hired, but on Friday, it was learned that his first language is Indian-Punjabi and a different interpreter would be required for future court dates.

After parting ways with his lawyer, Sharma applied for Legal Aid, but was denied. He appealed that decision but again was denied.

The next step is known as a Rowbotham application. That’s an application used to request government funding when someone charged with a serious crime has been denied Legal Aid.

May have to represent himself

If Rowbotham is granted, charges can’t proceed unless the government pays for a lawyer to represent the accused. If his Rowbotham application fails, Sharma may have to represent himself.

Sharma’s current counsel is Uma Kancharla, who appeared via Zoom on Friday. Kancharla wants to strike the guilty plea he made in March and has requested a transcript of the original plea.

When the case was before the judge on Friday, Kancharla asked to set a date for her motion to strike the plea. Crown attorney Kevin Ludgate said his concern is that once the plea is struck from the records, Koncharla will step down as Sharma’s counsel.

Boucher suggested a brief court proceeding on Sept 19, to check if all needed paperwork had been filed on Koncharla’s motion.

That would be followed by a half-day for court proceedings on Oct 17 to either deal with the motion to strike the plea, or if paperwork isn’t filed, then to deal with case management.

Sharma has also asked to be transferred from Central North Corrections in Penetanguishene to the Sudbury Jail. On Friday, he told the judge he has an enlarged prostate and can’t use the washrooms where he’s being held.

Boucher told him the Solicitor General determines where he is to be held.