Image Credit: Global Okanagan
June 16, 2014 - 11:19 AM
PENTICTON - A dangerous offender hearing and sentencing for sex offender David Wesley Bobbitt will begin next Monday, June 23 in Penticton Supreme Court.
Bobbitt pleaded guilty last April to several charges including sexual assault, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and confinement from an incident in 2012.
Sentencing through the dangerous offender hearing, which was originally scheduled to begin June 9, was postponed because the Justice Geoff Barrow fell ill. However, he “anticipates being ready to go on the 23,” said Crown prosecutor Nashina Devji.
The decision to run the trial from June 23 to July 8 and have Bobbitt appear in person, was approved today by Justice Carol Ross via phone.
Penticton sheriffs have taken extra security precautions, including calling in more sheriffs and setting up a body scanner outside the Supreme Courtroom.
Both crown and defence have applications to submit, however both believe the matters will be ready to discuss on the first day of trial. Defence lawyer Jim Pennington is seeking the criminal records of all Crown’s witnesses. And Crown is asking for two witnesses to justify via closed circuit TV.
Prosecutor Debra Drissell said they expect the hearing to take four weeks. The trial will continue in September, however no dates have been set yet.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014