Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Paris cops accused of raping Canadian woman will face trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Sep, 2017 12:34 PM

    A Canadian woman who says she was raped by two Paris police officers inside the force's headquarters three years ago is relieved that the case will go to trial, her lawyer said Friday.

    A French appeal court has overturned last year's decision by a lower court to dismiss the charges against the officers, whose names have not been released, Howard Rubel said.

    The ruling has brought some satisfaction to his client, Emily Spanton, who has agreed to be identified, Rubel said.

    "Most of the rules that we've developed in Canada about fair trial relating to sexual assault complainants are not in force in France," he said.

    "She had to agree to subject herself to a psychological assessment, she had to provide a history, a sexual history of her previous relationships," as well as character references, he said.

    "She has put up with a tremendous amount of invasion of privacy in order to ensure the matter goes forward so she's very relieved that that wasn't all for nothing."

    Spanton, the daughter of a former Toronto police detective, was visiting Paris in April 2014 when she met the officers at an Irish pub, he said.

    The officers offered to give her a tour of the police headquarters, a building famous for its architecture, the lawyer said.

    When she left the building later, Spanton approached another officer and reported that she had been raped, Rubel said.

    French media report the officers have denied the allegations, with one officer saying there was consensual sex and one admitting only to "consensual touching."

    The lower court had dismissed the case on grounds that there was not enough evidence to prosecute, Rubel said.

    But the appeal court unanimously disagreed with that finding and ordered a trial, which is scheduled to take place next year, he said, adding that much of the evidence is under a publication ban.

    "A court will finally get to rule on all of the evidence and make a decision as to what happened and (Spanton) is very pleased that she will have that opportunity to confront them," he said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Suspect Charged With Manslaughter In Fatal Surrey House Fire

    Suspect Charged With Manslaughter In Fatal Surrey House Fire
    The death of a man in a Thursday morning fire in Surrey is suspicious and homicide detectives have now taken over the case, Surrey RCMP said.

    Suspect Charged With Manslaughter In Fatal Surrey House Fire

    No Plans For Drug Legalization Despite Overdose Crisis: PM Trudeau

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he's aware of B.C.'s struggles dealing with the rising tide of opioid deaths, but there are no plans to legalize illicit substances like heroin as part of the response.

    No Plans For Drug Legalization Despite Overdose Crisis: PM Trudeau

    B.C. Groups Say Federal Cash To Help Sexual-Assault Victims And Diversity Work

    Seven organizations that received funding include the Ending Violence Association of B.C. and the Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre.

    B.C. Groups Say Federal Cash To Help Sexual-Assault Victims And Diversity Work

    Crews Struggle With Southeastern B.C. Wildfires As Conditions Ease Elsewhere

    Crews Struggle With Southeastern B.C. Wildfires As Conditions Ease Elsewhere
    CRANBROOK, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service says the unprecedented, aggressive behaviour of three blazes in southeastern British Columbia has forced firefighting crews to withdraw from the area.

    Crews Struggle With Southeastern B.C. Wildfires As Conditions Ease Elsewhere

    Case Of Teens Charged In Naked Photo Ring Casts Shadow Over Nova Scotia Town

    Case Of Teens Charged In Naked Photo Ring Casts Shadow Over Nova Scotia Town
    BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — This small Nova Scotia town is reckoning with the long shadow of a criminal prosecution involving so many of its children.

    Case Of Teens Charged In Naked Photo Ring Casts Shadow Over Nova Scotia Town

    273 Kilograms Of Suspected Cocaine Seized From A Boat On Nova Scotia's South Shore

    273 Kilograms Of Suspected Cocaine Seized From A Boat On Nova Scotia's South Shore
    The Canada Border Services Agency says its officers boarded a small vessel in Lunenburg County on Sunday that had arrived from Saint Martin.

    273 Kilograms Of Suspected Cocaine Seized From A Boat On Nova Scotia's South Shore