During Monday’s court appearance, both the Crown attorney and judge appeared via videoconference from St. John’s to avoid any conflict of interest with the local courts.
Crown attorney Vikas Khaladkar asked that a publication ban put in place to protect the identity of the victim be extended to include prohibiting the publication of the name of the accused.
Judge James Walsh granted the request, which was not objected to by defence counsel Robby Ash.
Khaladkar was asked via email after the court appearance why he had requested a publication ban that extended to the accused. He replied that it was done to protect the complainant’s right to privacy.
According to information filed with the courts, the 45-year-old man was arrested following a complaint of criminal harassment for repeatedly communicating with the woman Saturday.
The sexual assault is alleged to have happened June 12.
The man has five charges against him in total. It is also alleged that he uttered threats against the woman June 7 and also uttered a threat regarding another person to the woman some time between June 1 and June 30 of 2016.
The fifth charge involves an allegation of having assaulted the woman March 11 of this year.
The man was released on two $5,000 bonds and the matter will be called again July 25.
EARLIER STORY:
A lawyer in western Newfoundland has been arrested and is facing sexual assault and four other charges.
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He is also facing assault, criminal harassment by repeatedly communicating with another person, and two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the law societies of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick.
In provincial court 1:30 p.m. Monday a publication ban was placed on the name of the complainant as well as the name of the accused.
