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A MUN student accused of trying to poison a man and later attempting to murder him by hurling him over a cliff will go to trial next month.

Masih Allahbakhshi, 29, who had previously elected a jury trial at Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court, has changed his election to a trial before a judge at provincial court instead. It will take place over the course of a week, starting May 8.

Allahbakhshi didn’t appear in court when his case was called Thursday, but was represented by lawyer Mark Gruchy.

The engineering PhD student allegedly tried to poison a fellow student by giving him food laced with prescription medication a year ago. Four days later, he allegedly tried to throw the man over a cliff as the pair was walking on Signal Hill. Both men fell about 20 feet, with the victim suffering minor injuries.

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Allahbakhshi was arrested in connection with the Signal Hill incident and released on bail with strict conditions, including that he turn in his passport, adhere to a curfew and check in with the RNC multiple times a week.

He wasn’t charged with the attempting poisoning until Jan. 5, after police received forensic testing results, and he was released again on the same conditions, with one extra: he is not allowed to work or volunteer in any capacity that requires him to prepare or serve food.

Prosecutor Jude Hall has made an application to have the charges from both incidents joined together for trial.

Gruchy told the court he has not yet received any instructions on that from his client, but expects to consent to the application.

Allahbakhshi’s trial for the attempted murder charge was originally scheduled to go ahead last February, but was postponed after his then-lawyer, Ken Mahoney, withdrew from the case over a breakdown in the client-solicitor relationship.