Sexual assault charges against Taber man stayed over delays in reaching trial
LETHBRIDGE – Two counts of sexual assault against a former Taber man have been stayed by the presiding judge at the outset of the man’s trial.
The decision was the result of a successful Jordan application by Jorden Van Voorthuizen’s lawyer, Greg White, who argued that his client’s charter right to be tried within a reasonable time was infringed upon.
Under the Jordan framework, a trial in the Court of Queen’s Bench must be heard within 30 months of the charges being laid, unless there are exceptional circumstances, or the defence waives their right under Jordan.
In September of 2013, Van Voorthuizen was convicted by a jury of sexually assaulting two young boys on multiple occasions between 1995 and 2001. He was then sentenced to nine years in prison in April of 2014.