New charge for man awaiting sentencing

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on November 9, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man who has been waiting several months to be sentenced for sexually assaulting three women, is facing a new charge of sexual assault.The charge against Sohil Bindra was briefly spoken to Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court, where Bindra appeared by CCTV from the Edmonton Remand Centre.Bindra’s lawyer, Alain Hepner, told court he had only just received notice of the new charge, and he suggested the matter be adjourned for a week, at which time he will be able to speak to it. No other information about the charge was given in court.”I was just alerted to it this morning, and my friend (the Crown prosecutor), I think, just got the information yesterday, so that’s news to both of us,” Hepner said.

A sentencing date has also been set for Feb. 6, 2023 in relation to sex-related offences against three women. Bindra was found guilty in May of several offences, and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for last month but had to be adjourned after the judge became ill.

During Bindra’s trial last November and December, one of the women testified Bindra assaulted her in his vehicle in the spring of 2018. He was found guilty of sexual assault and administering a noxious substance in relation to the assault against the woman.

Another woman testified Bindra sexually assaulted her after he gave her and a friend a ride home from a bar in February of 2020. He was found guilty of housebreaking and commit sexual assault, sexual assault and administering a noxious substance in relation to that woman. He also faced a charge of sexual assault – in the form of an unwanted kiss – in relation to the woman’s friend to whom he gave a ride home, but Judge Jerry LeGrandeur said the Crown did not prove the absence of consent and he dismissed that charge.

A fourth woman told court during the trial that she was too drunk to drive home following a work Christmas party in December of 2018, and was sexually assaulted after Bindra allowed her to stay the night at his westside home. Although Bindra said she was coming onto him, she testified she did not consent and told him no. He was found guilty of administering a noxious substance and sexual assault.

Bindra was also found guilty on two drug charges; one for possessing cocaine and the other for possessing the substance he used to drug the women.

Bindra denied the allegations and testified during his trial that the liaisons with the women were consensual.

Bindra is also facing single charges of choking with intent, assault, and administering a drug, and two charges of sexual assault, in relation to two other women. Trials had been set, but then postponed pending the outcome of the first trial and subsequent sentencing. Those matters were also adjourned until next Tuesday, ostensibly to set new trial dates.

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