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Man accused of attacking doctor will stand before Supreme Court judge

Summerland man accused of attacking a doctor at the Penticton Regional Hospital elected for a trial by judge.
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Officers of the BC Sheriff Services lead Gregory Stanley Nield

The Summerland man accused of attacking a doctor in the psychiatric ward of the Penticton Regional Hospital has elected to go before a Supreme Court judge, moving the trial further ahead.

Gregory Stanley Nield, 30, pleaded not guilty to the charge of aggravated assault in March and was granted bail with several conditions in April.

Nield did not appear in person at the Penticton Courthouse on Nov. 9 where defence lawyer Jeff Campbell from Vancouver appeared by phone on his behalf to apply to have the trial heard before a Supreme Court judge. Nield had previously elected to go before a Provincial Court judge. The trial was initially set for Dec. 1-2, but in light of the re-election to Supreme Court those dates will instead be used for a preliminary inquiry which will determine if there is sufficient evidence to go forward with a trial.

Nield, who has been featured several times in the sports section of the Western News for his achievements in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is charged with allegedly attacking Dr. Rajeev Sheoran on Dec. 5, 2014 during a closed-door interview at Penticton Regional Hospital. Police said that Sheoran suffered a broken jaw and facial injuries during the melee, and the B.C. Nurses’ Union said the doctor was “lucky to be alive.”