Jesse Bennett, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter last year, heads to court in June. (RCMP handout)

Jesse Bennett, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter last year, heads to court in June. (RCMP handout)

Island man accused of abducting his daughter set to represent himself in trial

Cowichan Valley’s Jesse Bennett went missing for five months last year, court date set for June 5-9

The trial of Cowichan’s Jesse Bennett, charged with abducting his young daughter last year, is set for June 5-9 at the Duncan courthouse.

Jury selection will take place the week before the trial.

Bennett intends to represent himself during the court proceedings.

Bennett is charged with abducting his seven-year-old daughter in January, 2022.

The father and daughter went missing for approximately three months, and Bennett became the subject of a Canada-wide arrest warrant.

The child was returned April 20, 2022.

Bennett was arrested without incident on May 24 during a routine traffic stop in Shawnigan Lake.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story erroneously stated that the father and daughter were reported as missing for more than five months, not three.

READ MORE: Vancouver Island man, accused of abducting his daughter, arrested

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