There was an about-face at a fraud case in a St. John's courtroom Wednesday morning.

Stephen Batstone of Conception Bay South is facing 17 charges, including two for fraud over $5,000 involving two local companies.

It was expected that Batsone would plead guilty — but Averill Baker, Batstone's lawyer — withdrew, saying she couldn't get clear instructions from her client.

In the end, Batstone pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the case is set to go to trial in April.