Embattled former senator Don Meredith will tackle his accuser in courtroom and tells CBC News he is “completely not responsible” of intercourse crimes.
Meredith’s prison defence legal professional, Mustafa Sheikh, stated Meredith “will battle the fees towards him,” suggesting he will not negotiate a plea cut price with the Crown.
“At this time, Mr. Meredith solely needs to say that he is completely not responsible of any prison wrongdoing,” Sheikh stated.
Meredith’s first day in courtroom might be on Oct. 27.
Ottawa police laid 4 fees towards Meredith, 58, earlier this month — three counts of sexual assault and one depend of prison harassment in reference to incidents alleged to have occurred in 2013 and 2014.
According to courtroom paperwork, Meredith is alleged to have engaged in “threatening conduct” that prompted an individual — recognized solely by their initials, I.L. — to worry for his or her security.
The paperwork additionally describe at the very least three separate events when Meredith is alleged to have sexually assaulted the complainant, I.L., in contravention of part 271 of the Criminal Code.
The police have stated the complainant is an grownup.
Eight former Senate staffers and a parliamentary constable have alleged Meredith acted inappropriately towards them whereas he was serving within the higher home.
That alleged behaviour included undesirable kissing and touching and publicity of his penis, together with yelling and aggressive behaviour within the workplace. The Senate ethics officer investigated these claims as half of a years-long probe and located them credible.
The former senator is additionally alleged to have had a sexual relationship with a teenage woman.
Meredith’s lawyer raised considerations about an effort on the Senate to strip him of his “honourable” title — which, as a former senator, he holds for all times — and different privileges.
Quebec Sen. Josée Verner, with the help of a quantity of different senators, launched a movement final week to claw again these parliamentary perks.
Two of Meredith’s alleged victims spoke to CBC News concerning the movement, imploring the present slate of senators to chop ties with him as soon as and for all.
They say his alleged conduct, and the ensuing prison fees, demand a robust response from the higher home.
But additional debate on the movement was blocked after some senators raised considerations about its constitutionality.
Sheikh stated any transfer by the Senate towards his consumer may threaten his day in courtroom.
“The presumption of innocence is one of the elemental pillars of our prison justice system. It ought to not be a principle that must be handled frivolously on any entrance and preemptive actions to self-discipline Mr. Meredith would solely serve to politicize this matter and devalue the authorized course of,” Sheikh stated.