Judge declares mistrial in psychiatrist sex case
Second jury fails to reach verdict
CALGARY — Two Calgary juries have now been unable to reach a verdict on sexual assault charges against a psychiatrist relating to two of his court-appointed patients.
Dr. Aubrey Levin was convicted on three counts of sexual assault by a jury in January 2013 and sentenced to five years in prison. But that jury could not reach a verdict on four other charges.
The Crown retried Levin on two of them and a new jury, which began deliberations on Wednesday, was again unable to reach a consensus.
Alberta Justice Beth Hughes told court she had no choice but to declare a mistrial.
The Crown said it is considering whether to seek a conviction a third time.
“We’re going to strongly consider it. It’s one of those things that’s been a serious enough case that we’ve marshalled a lot of resources for two trials,” said Crown prosecutor Shane Parker.
“We’re going to take a lot of input as well from our two complainants, who by now have testified three times, once at a prelim (pre-trial hearing), and two trials, so their input is something we’re certainly going to want to have and we’re going to have to take a look at the big picture as well.”
Levin, who is 75, has asked Alberta’s Court of Appeal for a new trial on his earlier convictions and has remained free on bail.
Parker said a new trial date could be set on May 9, but a decision to go ahead could depend on what the Appeal Court decides.
The original allegations against Levin came to light in 2010 after one of his patients came forward with secret videos he had recorded during court-ordered sessions with the psychiatrist.
The patient was on probation at the time the videos were taken and had been ordered to see Levin twice a month.
The man said he had told authorities about previous assaults and no one believed him, so he bought a spy camera and brought it to his appointments.