Human trafficking trial of alleged leader of 'The Family' delayed
The human trafficking trial of a man police claim is the head of a drug trade network dubbed “The Family” has been derailed by his co-accused.
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Justice Bruce Millar was to begin hearing trial evidence Monday in the prosecution of Lawrence Orubor and his alleged accomplice, Shakir Jamal.
But after Jamal’s lawyer withdrew because of a potential conflict with a Crown witness, Millar granted an application to adjourn the case while the co-accused awaits the appointment of new counsel by Legal Aid.
Three weeks ago, during pre-trial motions, then-defence counsel Andrea Urquhart applied to withdraw from the case after it was disclosed a proposed Crown witness was a former client of hers.
On Monday, defence lawyer Shamsher Kothari, who has not been appointed as Jamal’s new counsel, asked Millar to adjourn the trial, because the accused hasn’t had a new lawyer approved for the case.
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“He’s unrepresented. He wants a lawyer. He’s waiting for a lawyer (to be appointed),” Kothari said.
He said even if Jamal was to stand trial as an unrepresented accused, a lawyer would likely have to be brought on board to cross-examine the Crown’s two main complainants.
Prosecutor Vicki Faulkner agreed Jamal’s trial would at least need a lawyer to conduct that portion of the hearing.
“There would have to be counsel appointed … to cross-examine those two women,” Faulkner said, in not opposing the adjournment application.
She also told Millar the Crown wasn’t seeking to sever the allegations against Orubor and Jamal and conduct two trials instead of one.
Millar raised a concern a delay could impact Charter right to be tried in a timely fashion, but Faulkner said the deadline set by the Supreme Court for cases to be concluded isn’t until July 7, 2023.
Orubor’s lawyer, Clayton Rice, said he had no submissions to make on the adjournment application.
https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/human-trafficking-trial-of-alleged-leader-of-the-family-delayed