Adjournment in human trafficking case to obtain new lawyer

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 10, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The matters for a man charged in relation to a human trafficking case whose trial was cancelled was adjourned once again for the accused to obtain a new lawyer.

The matter for Meriton Krasniqi was in Lethbridge provincial court Friday, with the accused in attendance and represented by duty counsel as he needs to acquire a new lawyer.

Krasniqi’s matter was adjourned to Oct. 3 to allow for Crown prosecutor Joe Mercier to be in attendance as he is assigned to the case.

Krasniqi’s matter was scheduled for trial to begin Friday but it was cancelled after Krasniqi’s lawyer withdrew last month.

Krasniqi has since asked the Crown for disclosure and for time to acquire new counsel, and

was advised by the Crown that his previous lawyer has not returned disclosure and therefore they were not in a position to provide it to him.

During Lethbridge provincial court Friday duty counsel asked the matter be adjourned to Oct. 7 to obtain disclosure and new counsel.

Crown James Rouleau said the Crown assigned to this matter was Joe Mercier and he had instructions to allow for a two-week adjournment for Krasniqi to obtain disclosure and to either retain new counsel or represent himself but asked to adjourn to Oct. 3 instead as Mercier will be in Lethbridge on that day.

Duty counsel agreed to adjourn the matter to Oct. 3 as Krasniqi has the intention of speaking to the Crown regarding his conditions and therefore it will be convenient if Mercier was in attendance. 
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.

– with files from Delon Shurtz

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