Ex-cabbie’s sex-assault appeal granted
Court failed to respect language rights of Akram Al Khalifa, 39, of Fredericton, at trial on allegations of groping woman in his taxi, exposing his penis, appeal judge rules Tuesday
A trial judge didn’t go far enough to ensure a Syrian refugee could understand the proceedings at his trial on sex-crime allegations last year, an appeal court ruled this week.
Akram Al Khalifa, 39, of Hawkins Street in Fredericton, was found guilty after trial of sexually assaulting a woman and committing an indecent act by exposing his penis to her the night of March 12, 2022.
Judge Scott Brittain sentenced him to 10 months in jail in December 2024 for those offences.
However, Al Khalifa sought to appeal his convictions on the summary charges and his sentence, and that matter was heard at the Burton Courthouse on Tuesday in the Court of King’s Bench.
