WESTLOCK – An area man accused of sexually assaulting a minor will stand trial in front of a judge and jury in the spring of 2024.
Following his Feb. 10 arraignment, the man is scheduled to stand trial in front of a Court of King’s Bench Judge and jury March 4-8, 2024, on charges of sexual assault and sexual contact with a minor.
Following a 45-minute preliminary hearing in Westlock Provincial Court Dec. 14, 2022, Judge Thomas Achtymichuk agreed there was enough evidence to proceed to trial — a court-imposed publication ban bars reporting of evidence given during the preliminary hearing, as well as the name of the accused or anything that could identify the victim until the conclusion of the trial.
Only one woman, in her early 20s, provided testimony at the preliminary hearing and was questioned by defence lawyer Amy Lind for close to 35 minutes — Crown prosecutor Brett Grierson only called the woman to stand but did not question her as there was a “consent committal.”
“A preliminary hearing is basically to determine if there is enough evidence to stand trial and it has been consented to you, through your lawyer, that the test has been met and you will be committed to stand trial,” said Judge Achtymichuk to the accused at the conclusion of the Dec. 14 hearing.
