A man arrested after a carjacking outside Prince George Airport last summer will remain in custody as he awaits trial.
BC Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church denied Tanner Jordan Meier’s bail application on Friday, Feb. 28, ruling that even releasing Meier to a residential treatment facility “would undoubtedly shake the confidence of the public” in the justice system.
“Despite the fact that — through his counsel at both the initial bail hearing and today — Mr. Meier apparently acknowledges his involvement in these events, he is still presumed innocent,” Church said in an oral decision. “Regardless of the gravity of the offences, the strength of the prosecution's case, or the possibility of a lengthy term of imprisonment.”
Meier was charged, after the Aug. 24, 2024 incident that began at YXS, with robbery, dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm, assault and driving while prohibited. The elderly victims suffered serious injuries.
Meier, 29 years old when charged, was originally ordered to remain in custody last Oct. 3 by Provincial Court Judge Peter McDermick. McDermick deemed detention necessary because of substantial likelihood that the accused would commit a criminal offence and because detention was necessary to maintain the public’s confidence in the administration of justice.
Meier, who has elected to be tried in BC Supreme Court, is scheduled for trial beginning Nov. 17.
At the 90-day detention review hearing, Church said there had been no developments with Meier’s bail plan.
“He is essentially proposing that he be released on the exact same bail plan that was before the provincial court judge in October 2024,” Church said. “Defence counsel submits, however, that Mr. Meier has been able to detox while in custody since his arrest, and he is in a romantic relationship such that he is very motivated to comply with court orders and attend residential treatment at [a] facility until his trial.”
During the hearing, orange-clad Meier frequently turned from his seat in the prisoner’s dock to smile and make eye contact with a lone woman seated in the back of the gallery.
Church said Meier’s record supports McDermick’s conclusion, because he has a history of disobeying court orders.
“There are simply no release conditions that would reduce the bail risk to an acceptable level in terms of the potential public harm that might occur,” Church said.
