CALGARY — An Alberta judge has ordered a man who is accused of mutilating, beating and starving his former roommate to stand trial.
Dustin Paxton, 30, stared off into space and rocked back and forth slightly throughout most of the proceedings Wednesday. He didn’t appear to snap to attention until Justice Brian Stevenson began to list off the charges Paxton will be tried on.
The judge’s decision came two days after the conclusion of a preliminary hearing held to determine if there was enough evidence to go to trial. Stevenson ruled there was enough to proceed on 11 of 13 charges, which include aggravated assault, forcible confinement, sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.
The charges relate to separate alleged attacks against four individuals, including the roommate.
“We got what we wanted,” Crown prosecutor Joe Mercier said afterwards.
An arraignment to set a trial date is scheduled for April 1. Mercier said a lengthy trial is likely to be held in the fall.
“We expect it to last at least five or six weeks minimum. It’s going to be a long haul.”
Paxton was arrested in late August after warrants were issued by police in both Calgary and Regina. He was initially accused of the aggravated assault and forcible confinement of his former roommate, who police say was tortured over a period of months before being dumped April 16 at a Regina hospital.
The individual, who can’t be named due to a publication ban, was starved and burned and had parts of his tongue and lips cut off. His weight had dropped to 87 pounds from 245. His family said in addition to extensive physical injuries, he suffered brain trauma and amnesia.
After Paxton’s arrest, additional charges were laid involving a girl under 18, who can’t be identified, and two men.