Finding lawyers proficient in French continues to impede sex assault trial
Accused serial rapist agrees to be represented by new Legal Aid counsel
Serial rape suspect Richard Mantha has found a new bilingual lawyer, but not one proficient enough to continue his trial in French.
Mantha appeared in Calgary Court of Justice on Friday where two defence lawyers appeared on the file.
Defence counsel Larry Hurd told court he had recently been appointed by Legal Aid, but the French he learned while on a mission in the south of France decades ago is no longer strong enough for him to properly represent the Quebec native.
And defence lawyer Marc Crerar, who was earlier appointed by Legal Aid for the sole purpose of cross-examining alleged victims if Mantha was to act for himself going forward, said he was bilingual, but not proficient enough to conduct a French-only trial.
But both Hurd and Crerar told Justice Judith Shrier that Mantha has agreed to have Crerar represent him going forward, providing he gets appointed as full counsel by Legal Aid.
As a result, the case has been adjourned to March 14 so Crerar can have that done.
The case was derailed at the end of January when Mantha fired the two lawyers who had been appointed to represent him.
Mantha told court, in English, that he no longer had confidence in his lawyers continuing to represent him in his French-only trial.
Mantha faces 20 sex-related charges involving allegations he abused seven women, most at an acreage where he rented property east of Calgary.
Court had already heard from four women, who testified in English with Mantha's agreement, while he had a French translator sit beside him in court to interpret anything he required.
Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin indicated when the trial was last in court that a fifth complainant was also ready to testify the following day.
The last complainant to testify before Mantha fired his counsel told court the accused had given her a strong dose of fentanyl before having sexual intercourse with her as she dozed off.
Mantha is also charged with drugging some of the women.
The complainant, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, said she was with Mantha at a “garage” he had on an acreage east of Calgary.
She said he had given her more fentanyl than she had asked from him before he supplied her with a sex toy and eventually used it on her.
Mantha remains in custody pending an outcome to the case.