Couple accused in Saint John, Charlottetown diamond heists get legal aid

A Russian-speaking coupleaccused of stealing a $10,000 diamond in Saint John and $20,000 worth of diamonds in Charlottetownappeared in court again on Monday,but they have yet to get a date for a bail hearing.

Grigori Zaharov, 70, and Natalia Feldman, 44, from Vaughan, Ont.,have been ordered back to Saint John provincial court on Nov.10 at 1:30 p.m. to set a date for a show cause hearing.

That marks exactly three weeks since they were arrested and taken into custody on Oct. 19.

Zaharov pleaded from the prisoner's box again on Mondayfor the court to let his wife off.

Through a translator, Zaharov told the judge that he is the only one who's guilty.

During his last appearance on Oct. 31, Zaharov said he didn't want a publicly funded lawyer to represent him.

But duty counsel Margaret Gallagher told the court on Mondayboth Zaharov and Feldman have been approved for legal aid and lawyers will be assigned shortly.

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Zaharov also repeated his request for disclosure.

The Crown said that would be provided once, and is normally done when the accused have counsel.

Zaharov did not clarify what he meant by disclosure, but he seems to be wanting information about the Crown's case against him.

For every appearance in Saint John, Feldman must be transported from the New Brunswick Women's Correctional Centre in Miramichi.

The Russian-speaking translator, Maria Goldfarb, is also travelling to Saint John from Fredericton for every appearance.

At one point, Feldman did start speaking at length in Russian.

The translator said Feldman was having difficulty accessing money while on remand in Miramichi.

Provincial court Judge Marco Cloutier said that was a correctional issue.

He said Feldman could have time with the translator and Gallagher to discuss her concerns, before returning to jail.

The couple is accused of stealing a $10,000 diamond fromW. Smith & Co. Fine Jewellersin Saint John on Oct.7, by allegedly asking to see the gem and then swapping it for a cubic zirconia while the clerk was distracted.

Zaharov and Feldmanare also accused of stealing $20,000 worth of diamonds from a jewelry store in Charlottetown on Oct. 12 in a similar allegedswapping scheme.