Nova Scotia’s highest court has overturned the conviction of a Halifax man who had been found guilty of two counts of invitation to sexual touching.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that Mark Irvine Wetmore’s constitutional rights were violated because his case took too long to come to trial.
Wetmore was charged in June 2021. His trial didn’t wrap up until May of last year, almost 35 months later.
The case was originally supposed to be heard in May 2023, but Wetmore requested an adjournment, claiming the Crown had delayed in finalizing its case. The next available trial dates weren’t until May 2024.
In order to meet deadlines established by the Supreme Court of Canada in its Jordan decision, the trial would have to end in early February 2024.
Committee Member: Mu. Editorial Lead: Yesmap
Adult-attracted gay man; writer. Attraction to minors is typical variation of human sexuality.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - There’s been a shocking turn of events in the case of two young girls allegedly sexually assaulted for five years. The man accused of the crimes had faced six felonies, but those charges have been thrown out.
Sixty-two years in prison is the maximum sentence that 56-year-old Rick Neal would have faced if convicted of sexually assaulting and abusing two girls ages 13 and 11.
But Neal may never go to trial because of a ruling that it took too long for the prosecution to take the case to trial. The six felony charges were dismissed by Dodge County District Judge Geoffrey Hall.
“I believe it’s important for victims to be heard, but it’s also paramount for judges to decide cases based upon the law and the facts. And in this case, the underlying rule here is that there is a right to a speedy trial,” said Judge Geoffrey Hall of Dodge County District Court.
Committee Member: Mu. Editorial Lead: Yesmap
Adult-attracted gay man; writer. Attraction to minors is typical variation of human sexuality.
