Trial for ex-ski coach Bertrand Charest pushed to Thursday
The start of a trial for former Canadian ski coach Bertrand Charest on 57 charges, including sexual assault allegedly involving at least a dozen girls and young women, has been delayed until Thursday.
Charest, 51, is also facing breach of trust charges. He has been in custody since March 2015.
The trial was expected to begin at a Saint-Jérôme, Que., courtroom Monday morning, but Charest changed lawyers for the fourth time.
Quebec Court Judge Sylvain Lépine granted a request by Charest's new lawyers for a few more days to prepare with their client, who was recently moved from the Bordeaux jail in Montreal to the jail in Saint-Jérôme.
At Monday's proceedings, Charest was sitting in the prisoner's box, with his head shaved, and wearing a black shirt and vest.
Allegations span 6 years
It's alleged young people aged 12 to 19 were sexually assaulted between 1991 and 1998 at Mont-Tremblant, north of Montreal, as well as in Whistler, B.C., France, Austria, New Zealand and the United States.
Charest was arrested after an alleged victim came forward.
Alpine Canada won't comment on the case, but in a written statement said it has a policy of "zero tolerance" towards inappropriate conduct by employees, and that "any form of criminal behaviour by any coach is required to be immediately reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities."
Alpine Canada has said it contacted the RCMP in 1998 about sexual abuse complaints against Charest.
The organization said it opened its own investigation early in 1998 and then told Charest he was being removed as a coach.
Alpine Canada maintains it was not aware of the results of any RCMP investigation.
Alleged victims and others within the sporting world have criticized Alpine Canada for not doing more to protect athletes.
