"Hepner elected a jury trial on his client’s behalf and entered not guilty pleas to the 10 charges.
Outside court, Hepner said the lengthy delay was simply because of scheduling issues.
“I’m not available until then because of other matters,” Hepner said.
Levin, 72, who was not required to be present, did not attend the short proceeding.
He faces charges in connection with alleged sexual assaults on 10 male patients, including one who launched a nearly $4.7-million lawsuit last month."
REPORTER KEVIN MARTIN: THE CALGARY SUN;
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND: Dr. Aubrey Levin, 71, was first arrested and charged March 23 after allegations that a 36-year-old patient was repeatedly sexually assaulted. Calgary Police said that following that charge, “the sex crimes unit was approached by numerous people alleging they, too, were sexually assaulted by Levin during counselling sessions or court-ordered visits. These assaults allegedly occurred at Levin's Peter Lougheed (hospital) office or examination rooms. Levin, first licensed by the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons 15 years ago, has been suspended and has not practised since the first charge was laid. He previously practised psychiatry in South Africa before coming to Canada about 15 years ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Court psychiatrist Dr. Aubrey Levin will face a Calgary jury more than a year from now on 10 charges he sexually assaulted male patients," the Calgary Sun story by reporter Kevin Martin published earlier today under the heading, "Accused doc to face trial next year," begins.
"Crown prosecutor Bill Wister and defence lawyer Alain Hepner appeared briefly Friday in Court of Queen’s Bench to set down the 10-day hearing," the story continues.
"Hepner elected a jury trial on his client’s behalf and entered not guilty pleas to the 10 charges.
Outside court, Hepner said the lengthy delay was simply because of scheduling issues.
“I’m not available until then because of other matters,” Hepner said.
Levin, 72, who was not required to be present, did not attend the short proceeding.
He faces charges in connection with alleged sexual assaults on 10 male patients, including one who launched a nearly $4.7-million lawsuit last month."
That claim alleges the authorities did not properly investigate complaints against Levin until the plaintiff came forward in March, 2010.
A second claim filed earlier this week by a separate patient is seeking $400,000 in damages.
At one point, Levin faced charges relating to 21 different patients, but Wister withdrew 11 charges at the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry in June.
The forensic psychiatrist regularly saw patients referred to him under court order.
His trial is scheduled to start on Oct. 1, 2012, with the jury being selected on Sept. 28.
Levin, who was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta after being charged, is free on bail pending the outcome of his case.
If convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each of the charges he faces."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The story can be found at:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/09/09/accused-doc-to-face-trial-next-year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-feature-cases-issues-and.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.coM;
