Privileges sought for Glen Race

Glen Race's defence lawyeris trying to get him more privileges as he awaits trial on two murder charges in Nova Scotia.

Joel Pink said a psychiatrist has recommended that Race be moved from the correctional side of theEast Coast ForensicHospital to the rehabilitative section.

"Basically, it would allow him to have more access to other people than he presently has," Pink told reporters Thursday.

Right now Race,who is diagnosed with schizophrenia,can only see his family through a glass window. The move would allow him to be in the same room as his visitors.

"He's been a model patient at the hospital. That's not an issue. Otherwise they would never do it," said Pink.

Pink said Race would not be allowed off the hospital grounds.

The Crown arguesthat anything that changes Race's status is a bail issue and must be dealt with in Supreme Court.

"Our concern is that he's at present remanded in custody and if there's to be any change to that then it should be done in accordance with the Criminal Code, and if there needs to be hearing, there will be a hearing," said prosecutor Paul Carver.

The issue will be argued in court next month.

Race ischarged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Michael Paul Knott and Trevor Charles Brewster in 2007.

Hewas convicted of murder in the U.S. in 2008 and later extradited to face the murder charges in Canada.