Proceedings delayed
British sailor accused of sexual assault hospitalized
A British sailor on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a Halifax woman has been hospitalized, delaying proceedings in Nova Scotia Supreme Court yet again.
Darren Smalley and Simon Radford are charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm and participating in a sexual assault involving one or more people in the Warrior Block accommodations at CFB Shearwater in April 2015.
The trial was scheduled to continue Friday, but Radford’s lawyer David Bright informed Justice Patrick Duncan that his client was in hospital.
“He’s anticipating a surgery - today, tomorrow - it depends entirely on the medical people,’’ said Bright.
“Following that, there will be an in-house requirement for antibiotics and that sort of thing. The concern, I guess, is septicemia of the wound and they’re being very, very cautious.’’
Bright added: “He’s anxious to get back and get underway.’’
The case was adjourned until Monday. It’s not clear yet whether Radford will be well enough to continue at that time.
The commencement of the trial had been delayed on Tuesday because Radford was in hospital. Bright had told the court his client was injured in the United Kingdom and suffered a torn artery.
The trial has only heard from one witness, a military police officer who investigated the alleged incident.
Sgt. Tyler Bruce-Hayes told the court Thursday that a number of electronic devices were seized from the barracks after a search warrant was obtained.
Bruce-Hayes said videos and photos were extracted from those devices. He identified Radford, 34, as the man in one short video clip that was played in court.
Also Thursday, the sergeant reviewed a number of photos of items that were seized as part of the investigation, including photos showing a bra and underwear the complainant was wearing during the alleged sexual assault.