Snowbirds pilot headed for trial amid sexual assault accusations
Accused of sexual assault, former Canadian Forces Snowbirds pilot Maj. Steven Hurlbut appears headed for trial.
Wednesday morning trial dates were supposed to be put on the record in the Barrie courthouse when a representative for Hurlbut's lawyer, Karl Toews, expressed concerns about the defence counsel's availability before the proposed late August trial dates.
The defence also noted it was not willing to waive Section 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects an accused person's liberty, security and the right to a fair trial in a reasonable timeframe.
Criminal cases in the Ontario Court of Justice are expected to be completed within 15 months under the recently introduced Jordan-compliant trial scheduling direction.
The 48-year-old Hurlbut from Alberta, who's been a pilot for more than 30 years, was charged with sexual assault against another member of the military last June around the time the Snowbirds took flight for their annual Barrie Airshow.
The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service charged Hurlbut about a week after the military said its investigation began into alleged sexual misconduct. The charge, however, is now being handled in civilian criminal court in Barrie and not within the military system.
A publication ban protects the complainant's identity.
Before the charges, Hurlbut had been a member of the Snowbirds for two years, served as a lecturer at Royal Military College, and was a fighter pilot on 36 combat missions in Syria and Iraq starting in 2014.
Hurlbut, also known on the aerial acrobatics team as Stu, was flying lead solo in the number nine jet when the Department of National Defence said, after the Barrie Airshow, Hurlbut had been removed from the team and reassigned. At the same time, the Snowbirds performed with eight aircraft.
On Thursday, the Department of National Defence confirmed to CTV News Hurlbut is no longer a member of the Snowbirds and is currently employed with 4 Operations Support Squadron at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.
The matter returns in a virtual courtroom next week to address the defence's concerns.
The allegations against the accused have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.