Former psychiatrist fires lawyer in sex assault trial
A former Calgary forensic psychiatrist charged with sexual assault is now representing himself.
The jury learned Tuesday in a Calgary courtroom that 73-year-old Aubrey Levin has fired his lawyer, Alain Hepner.
Levin, who is accused of sexually assaulting 10 male patients, must now represent himself.
While Court of Queen's Bench Justice Donna Shelley didn't tell the jury why Levin fired his lawyer, she told the jury not to read into it.
The court also heard on Tuesday that Levin had asked for an adjournment, but it was denied.
In the trials first hearing on Oct. 10, Levin's lawyer argued his client was too ill to face trial — as he suffers from heart failure, diabetes and kidney problems — but his request to delay the proceedings was denied.
Then in the second hearing, Levin claimed he was not mentally fit to stand trial, claiming he suffered from the early onset of dementia.
On Tuesday afternoon, Levin sat alone while the jury watched video of his interview with police.
It's not the first video played in court, as one of the alleged victims who claims he was sexually assaulted by Levin also captured two encounters on video by wearing a wristwatch with a spy cam.
Those videos were played in court on Oct. 12 and show Levin undoing the man’s belt and jeans and fondling the man.
Most of the alleged victims had a criminal record and were on medication at the time they met with Levin as part of a court order.
Five women and seven men are serving as jurors and the trial is expected to last six weeks.
