Arrest warrant vacated in connection to human trafficking charges

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on August 27, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

An arrest warrant for a man charged in relation to a human trafficking case has been vacated, only one day after it was issued.

The warrant was issued Thursday after Meriton Krasniqi failed to attend a hearing in Lethbridge provincial court. However, on Friday the warrant was vacated after court was told the warrant should not have been released since the accused may not have known he was required to be at court.

Krasniqi did not have anyone representing him Thursday, either, after his lawyer was allowed to withdraw from the record nearly two months ago. Calgary lawyer Cory Wilson told court on June 30 that Krasniqi would not reply to his attempts to contact him. Wilson said his only contact with Krasniqi had been through his girlfriend, but she refused to provide him with the accused’s phone number, and stopped communicating with him, as well.

Krasniqi attended court in person June 30, however, and was instructed to retain a new lawyer as quickly as possible in case the trial dates of Sept. 9, 22 and 23 need to be rescheduled. The trial has since been cancelled and the matter returns to court Sept. 9. If Krasniqi or a lawyer fail to attend the hearing, the arrest warrant could be released.

Krasniqi pleaded not guilty Jan. 7 to charges of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault/party to offence with another person, aggravated sexual assault, trafficking in persons under the age of 18, and two counts of sexual assault.

Police alleged that eight men and two youth from Lethbridge and Calgary selected and groomed a 15-year-old girl and took her to specific locations where sex offences occurred. The same individuals had also engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, and three additional complainants came forward later in connection with the investigation.

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