Peter Nygard is detained in Toronto, making it difficult to schedule a Montreal courthouse appearance, his defence lawyer says.
The prosecutor in the Montreal sexual assault case against fashion mogul Peter Nygard said in court on Monday that he wants a decision to be made in April on whether the trial will be heard before a jury or a judge alone.
Jérôme Laflamme told Quebec Court Judge Andre Perreault that the complainant “wants things to move a little bit.” The prosecutor made the comment after defence lawyer Laurence Juillet informed the judge that Nygard was not ready to set a trial date, as was scheduled for Monday.
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The charges were filed against Nygard late in March last year.
He is charged with the sexual assault and forcible confinement of a woman more than two decades ago. The crimes are alleged to have taken place between Nov. 1, 1997, and Nov. 15, 1998.
Nygard is the founder of an international clothing design, manufacturing and supply business based in Winnipeg with offices and warehouses in the United States, including New York City and California. His company has multiple product lines and brands.
He is detained in Toronto, where he faces six counts of sexual assault and three counts of forcible confinement. Laflamme said Nygard is scheduled to have a trial before a jury in Toronto early in September.
Juillet said it has been very difficult to arrange to have Nygard appear at the Montreal courthouse, even through a video-conference, because he is detained in Toronto. Nygard was not able to appear before Perreault on Monday.
Laflamme also informed Perreault that Nygard is appealing Justice Minister David Lametti’s decision allowing Nygard to be extradited to the U.S., where he is charged in New York with racketeering conspiracy, sex-trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, transportation of a minor for prostitution and transportation for prostitution.
Laflamme said Nygard won’t be extradited until his two cases in Canada are completed.
The Montreal case returns to court in April.
pcherry@postmedia.com
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