Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Accused serial rapist Richard Mantha fired his lawyers on Tuesday, seven days into his sexual assault trial.
Mantha, 59, faces 20 charges involving seven women.
His trial got underway on Jan. 19 and is set to run until Feb. 9.
On Tuesday afternoon, following a lunch break, defence lawyer Kim Arial told the judge that Mantha was “discharging” her services as well as those of co-counsel André Ouellette.
Mantha’s move comes after powerful testimony from four women who testified he drugged and sexually assaulted them. A fifth woman was scheduled to testify Wednesday.
Arial and Ouellette vigorously cross-examined each complainant.
“I don’t think it’s fair to me to sit here and put my life and my future in the hands of people who don’t seem to care,” said Mantha.
Prosecutor Dominique Mathurin is before the court this afternoon to determine how or if the trial will proceed.
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Credit belongs to : ca.news.yahoo.com
