Crown misconduct led to stayed sexual assault charges against Alberta spiritual leader and wife, court hears
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Open court learned today that stayed sexual assault charges against a well-known Edmonton-area spiritual leader and his wife were the result of Crown misconduct.
Johannes (John) de Ruiter and his wife, Leigh Ann, each faced six counts of sexual assault and were set to go to trial in September.
On Friday, defence lawyers Dino Bottos and Zachary Al-Khatib asked Court of King’s Bench Justice Avril Inglis to clarify a publication ban that would allow them to speak about the Crown’s handling of the case.
“The Crown conduct in this case rendered the entire trial incapable of proceeding, as the Crown acknowledged. And that’s because when there is Crown interference with evidence, we can’t trust the evidence anymore,” said Al-Khatib, who’s representing Leigh Ann.
Defence lawyers said the Crown’s theory of the case was that complainants were psychologically manipulated by the couple into consenting to sex. They also sought to establish that John de Ruiter was the leader of a cult.
Read more https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/crown-misconduct-led-to-stayed-sexual-assault-charges-against-alberta-spiritual-leader-and-wife-court-hears-9.7177058
Content retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/crown-misconduct-led-to-stayed-sexual-assault-charges-against-alberta-spiritual-leader-and-wife-court-hears-9.7177058.
