Trial delayed for former St. John's cab driver accused of sexual assault
The trial for a former City Wide Taxi driver charged with sexual assault has been delayed.
Lulzim — or Leon — Jakupaj, 33, was supposed to be at Supreme Court in St. John's for Day 1 of his trial.
However, lawyers on the case told the court he was still at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick. A warrant has been issued to get him back to the province for trial.
Crown prosecutor Dana Sullivan says she has been in contact with the RCMP, which handles prisoner transfers. Sullivan said there were scheduling issues.
Even if Jakupaj did appear in court on Monday, the trial would have been delayed because of a water issue at the courthouse.
The case will be called back at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday to determine when the seven-day trial will begin.
The Kosovo man was arrested in May 2016 and charged with sexual assault.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said two charges were in response to two separate complaints made to police.
Police said the complaints were made in April and May 2016, and "it is alleged Jakupaj was operating a taxi cab during the commission of these offences."
In June, Jakupaj was sentenced to four years in prison for an on-the-job break and enter that happened after he followed a female passenger inside a home in the St. John's neighbourhood of Kilbride.
Correction : A previous version of this story indicated Lulzim Jakupaj was in Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia. However, lawyer Dana Sullivan later clarified he was actually in Dorchester Penitentiary.(Oct 23, 2017 4:15 PM)
