Further adjournment in human trafficking matter

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on October 4, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

One of several men charged in relation to a human trafficking case continues to adjourn his matters while he waits to hire a new lawyer.

Despite several adjournments already since the accused parted ways with his lawyer earlier this summer, Meriton Krasniqi sought another adjournment Monday during a brief hearing in Lethbridge provincial court.

Krasniqi was set to stand trial last month, but it had to be cancelled after his previous lawyer was allowed to withdraw. 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.

On Monday Krasniqi, who attended court in person, still didn’t have a lawyer, and he hadn’t received disclosure. However, Crown Prosecutor Joe Mercier did not oppose his request for another adjournment.

“These are very serious charges with very serious consequences and he needs a lawyer,” Mercier said.

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.

During Monday’s hearing the court also removed one of several conditions of Krasniqi’s previous bail release, which required him to obey a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day.

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