Defence counsel conceded the delay was at his hands and would not result in a renewed application by his client for a judicial stay based on allegations Selby’s Charter right to a speedy trial was violated
Final arguments in the trial of former teacher Jason Selby over his sexual relationship with an ex-student have been delayed.
Defence counsel Alain Hepner on Wednesday asked Justice Sean Dunnigan to adjourn the case because of a personal issue that had arisen.
The Calgary Court of Justice agreed to delay final submissions, rescheduling those for Aug. 14.
Crown prosecutor Pam McCluskey did not oppose the adjournment.
Hepner conceded the delay was at his hands and would not result in a renewed application by his client for a judicial stay based on allegations Selby’s Charter right to a speedy trial was violated.
“I’m seeking an adjournment. The adjournment is mine. There’s no new issue with Jordan,” he said, in reference to the Supreme Court decision setting guidelines for unreasonable delay.
Dunnigan ruled in May that despite the three-year period from when Selby was charged to the scheduled end of his trial, which was to be Friday, no Charter breach occurred.
Hepner was to present final submissions in the case, which has been on again and off again for a year, before his personal issue resulted in the need for an adjournment.
Selby, 41, is charged with sexual exploitation over the sexual relationship he had with a 17-year-old student following the end of the 2017-18 school year.
The complainant testified Selby provided his phone number to her at the end of the semester and asked her to text him, which she did.
On July 7, 2018, she went to his home where they began what was a nearly two-year-long sexual relationship.
But she testified by that time she realized he was taking advantage of her and she broke off the relationship.
Under cross-examination by Hepner on Monday, the now 23-year-old conceded that she agreed to the sexual relationship with her former teacher.
But she said she considered Selby an authoritative person in her life when their sexual relationship began.
“He had no authority over you,” Hepner suggested to the complainant, who initially took the witness stand nearly a year ago.
“He didn’t have direct authority, but I still felt he was an authoritative person in my life, because he was my teacher … and he was someone I looked up to,” the woman said.
“I really valued his opinion on me.”
The lawyer pointed out she continued the relationship “well into 2020.”
“I did it because it was validating, because he was like the cool, smart, older teacher.”
Selby has since been fired from his job at Western Canada High School.