Melvin Laing made a brief appearance in provincial court in Corner Brook on Tuesday morning.
The appearance had been set for a hearing on a defence application to access a medical document involving his alleged victim. However, due to the lateness of receiving some information, Laing’s lawyer, Sandi MacKinnon, was not ready to proceed. Judge Kymil Howe agreed to MacKinnon’s suggestion that the application be heard on Thursday prior to the start of Laing’s trial.
The 58-year-old Irishtown-Summerside man is charged with eight offences, including two counts apiece of sexual assault and forcible confinement, along with single counts of administering a noxious substance to endanger a life or cause bodily harm, anal intercourse, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.
His alleged victim was under the age of 14 at the time the offences.
