Achi news desk-
The trial of a West Island baseball coach accused of sexually abusing a minor will continue after the case was almost thrown out due to unreasonable delays.
Robert Litbeck, 43, filed for a stay of proceedings after being charged in 2021 with one count of sexual harassment and one count of sexual assault.
Judge Jean-Jacques Gnat denied the request Thursday morning.
The defense argued that by the time the trial was expected to end in mid-July, a total of 1,150 days, or about 38 months, would have passed since indictments were filed, beyond the deadline set by the Supreme Court of Canada in Jordan. Judgment.
The Supreme Court set a limit of 30 months for the completion of trials in superior courts.
However, the judge attributed some of the delays – 249 days – to the defense, which means that the total delay in the case was 901 days, or 29.6 months, since the charges were laid, just within the Jordan ceiling.
The trial is expected to begin on July 15.
The defendant coached minor baseball players and was a baseball coach and manager in the Lac Saint Louis baseball organization since 2008.
Litbek is suspected of sexually assaulting one of his players during private lessons, the police said in a press release after he was arrested.
— with files from CTV News’ Olivia O’Malley.
