Defence firm blasted for delays, no-shows
When counsel and defendant in youth file don’t appear to resolve sex case as planned, court heard Crown is having trouble communicating with lawyers at Gorham Vandebeek
A historical sex-crime case was expected to be resolved with a plea Wednesday, but when the accused and his lawyer didn’t appear in court, a prosecutor said the firm representing him has been problematic.
A 26-year-old man from Quebec City accused of sexually assaulting an underage complainant, touching that minor for a sexual purpose and inviting that same complainant to touch him for a sexual purpose, all between July 1, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2015, in Oromocto, was scheduled to appear in Fredericton provincial court Wednesday to answer to the charges.
The defendant was under the age of 18 at the time, so his identity is protected as per the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, as is the identity of the complainant.
Court heard in previous court appearances earlier this year from defence lawyer Adrian Forsythe that his firm and the Crown prosecutors’ office were in discussions to resolve the case without trial.