A trial has been temporarily adjourned after Brandon Bill, 24, of Innisfail pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of sexual interference with a 14-year-old girl in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Tuesday.
The charges stem from alleged sexual interference with a minor in April 2010.
Justice Kenneth Nielsen made application to have the courtroom cleared under an unusual Criminal Code application that excludes the public from hearing past sexual conduct of the complainant.
“We usually have the media and the public in the courtroom all the time even if there is a publication ban, so today was unusual,” Crown prosecutor Charlotte Oxford said later Tuesday.
“The reason for this was because of the type of application. It was an application that had to do with past sexual conduct and the judge thought it might be best to do this.”
The trial later reconvened only long enough for it to be put over to Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Sept. 25, 26 and 27.
Nielsen later asked to be put on the disqualified list. “I know too much in this matter,” the judge said.
The trial was adjourned at a request by defence lawyer Patty McNaughton.
jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com