At the Sherbrooke Courthouse, Judge Julie Beauchesne declared a stay of proceedings in the second trial of Samuel Ducharme due to unreasonable delays.
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In her decision, the judge noted that due to the lack of staff and resources in the judicial system, the state had failed in its obligation to find a trial date that complied with the 18-month deadlines provided for in the Jordanian Supreme Court order.
The court apologized to the complainant, who testified earlier in the day, as part of a voir dire motion to stay the proceedings.
The female victim described being sexually touched in a motor vehicle by the 42-year-old Sherbrooke police officer following a Christmas party for city employees in December 2011.
Judge Julie Beauchesne praised the courage she showed in denouncing events that occurred a dozen years ago and apologized.
The complainant filed a complaint in November 2021 following media reports of the arrest of Samuel Ducharme in a first case of sexual assault that had occurred several months earlier.
Remember, the former spokesman for the Sherbrooke Police Department was found guilty of actions committed during his time as a patrol officer.
Ducharme turned to the Supreme Court to challenge Judge Serge Champoux's guilty verdict.
In December he was sentenced to a six-month community prison sentence, which was immediately suspended pending a decision on his appeal.