Two witness statements purged - court filing
Counsel argues in application for stay of sex-abuse charges that defendant Brandon Aaron Ladds, 33, of Maugerville, can’t make full answer and defence without deleted videos
A court filing from the defence in a sex-abuse case has revealed more information about the Fredericton Police Force’s destruction of key evidence, indicating it purged not just one but two witness statements.
The trial of Brandon Aaron Ladds, 33, of Portobello Drive in Maugerville, began in Fredericton provincial court in December on charges alleging he sexually assaulted a minor, touched that child for a sexual purpose with his penis, invited the minor to touch his penis, touched the child with his penis while in a position of trust and/or authority, and invited the minor to touch his penis while in a position of trust and/or authority, all between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, in Maugerville.
A court order precludes the publication of information that would tend to identify the complainant.
The trial was halted late last year after the complainant testified about giving a recorded statement to the Fredericton Police Force before the RCMP took over the investigation due to a jurisdictional issue.
