By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Decision on historic sex assault convictions to come in early March

Feb 14, 2019 | 6:11 AM

LETHBRIDGE  – A 50-year old man from Raymond will have to wait until early March to find out the results of his trial on historical sexual assaults.

During his trial in late January on six counts of sex-related charges, his lawyer, Robert Bissett, invited convictions on four of six charges, including three of sexual assault, and one of indecent assault.

The man can not be named because of a publication ban in effect; the alleged incidents occurred before he turned 18, about 32 years ago, and to protect the identity of the victims. The man however, is facing another trial later in the year on other sex-related charges. 

Crown lawyer Dawn Janecke made it clear she would be seeking jail time for the defendant, however Bissett argued that if his client is found guilty, he should be sentenced under either the Juvenile Delinquents Act (1908-1984) or the Young Offenders Act (1984-2003), instead of the current Youth Criminal Justice Act (2003).

He explained that under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, if a law has changed since the commission of an offence, an offender should receive the benefit of the “lesser punishment” between the old and new law. Three of the charges, he argued, fall under the Juvenile Delinquents Act. Under that act, youth under the age of 18 were not permitted to be sent to jail, only to reform school.

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

The judge in the case is expected to make a decision March 4, 2019 on which of the six charges the man will be convicted, and under which legislation the man will be sentenced. Sentencing may not occur until after May 15, 2019.