A spokeswoman for Nova Scotia’s prosecutors says any appeal of the acquittal of a Halifax cabbie charged with sexual assault will be on the basis of legal errors, not public protests.
READ MORE: ‘Not going to stand for this’: Group pens letters for Halifax judge’s removal
Judge Gregory Lenehan found 40-year-old Bassam Al-Rawi not guilty last Wednesday.
Prosecution spokeswoman Chris Hansen says the Crown attorney in the case is reviewing the decision, and will make a recommendation that will be further considered by the senior Crown in the region and the prosecution service’s appeal lawyers.
Get breaking National news
Al-Rawi was charged after police found the woman, in her 20s, passed out and partially naked in his car in the early hours of May 23, 2015.
Lenehan said in an oral decision last Wednesday that the Crown provided no evidence on the woman’s lack of consent, and said “clearly, a drunk can consent.”
- Osoyoos Band seeks return of sacred sites in discussions with B.C. government
- Record turnout expected for Penticton Peach Classic Triathlon, boosting local economy
- Mom and 1-month-old baby missing in northern B.C., not seen since July 9
- Hoekstra says Trump serious about tariff threat over wildfire smoke
Following the acquittal, first reported by Metro Halifax, people across the municipality spoke out in opposition and protests were scheduled in Halifax for Tuesday and Wednesday.
READ MORE: Groups call for removal of ‘drunks can consent’ judge in Nova Scotia
Hansen says prosecutors are aware of the “public angst,” but she adds the decision will based on a careful analysis of the law involved and the lawyers will take the time required.
–With a file from Sean Previl, Global News
Comments
Comments closed.
Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.
Please see our Commenting Policy for more.