Former Montreal baseball coach accused of sex assault on minor loses bid to throw out case
The trial of a West Island baseball coach accused of sexually abusing a minor will proceed after the case was almost thrown out due to unreasonable delays.
Robert Litvack, 43, filed a motion to seek a stay of proceedings after he was charged in 2021 on one count of sexual interference and one count of sexual assault.
Justice Jean Jacques Gagné dismissed the motion Thursday morning.
Robert Litvack, 43, leaves court with his lawyer on Thursday, April 25, 2024. He is set to go on trial in July 2024 on allegations of sexually assaulting a minor. (CTV News)
The defence had argued that by the time the trial was expected to end in mid-July, a total of 1,150 days, or roughly 38 months, would have passed since charges were laid, exceeding the deadline set by the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark Jordan ruling.
The top court set a limit of 30 months for trials to be completed in Superior Courts.
However, the judge attributed some of the delays — 249 days — to the defence, which means the total delay in the case was 901 days, or 29.6 months, since the charges were laid, just shy of the Jordan ceiling.
The trial is expected to begin July 15.
The accused coached minor baseball players and was a baseball coach and administrator with the Lac Saint-Louis baseball organization since 2008.
Litvack allegedly sexually assaulted one of his players during private lessons, police said in a news release after he was arrested.
-- with files from CTV News' Olivia O'Malley.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
One dead after potential wrong way crash on Highway 401 in Milton: OPP
One person is dead and another is in life-threatening condition after a driver was travelling in the wrong direction on Highway 401 in Milton Sunday, according to police.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc insists
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'The Fall Guy' gives Hollywood a muted summer kickoff with a US$28.5M opening
"The Fall Guy," the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with US$28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that's very much to be determined for Hollywood.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
Hamas says latest ceasefire talks have ended. Israel vows military operation in 'very near future'
The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after "in-depth and serious discussions,"{ the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.