Sexual Assault Charges Dropped by Women Who Fought to Wear Niqab amid Trial

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Crown lawyer in a unique case comprising of a woman who fought a seperate case to wear a niqab while testifying has confirmed to have dropped her sexual assault case after receiving “additional material.” The case was filed by a Toronto woman, whose identity has to be kept a secret due to a publication ban, who was trying to push charges against two male relatives since 2007. The now 38-year-old women has claimed that the suspected men assaulted her in the 1980s when she was a child.

According to a statement issued by the Crown attorney, Michael Cantlon, on Thursday, “there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction.” Whereas, a representative from the Ministry of the Attorney General alleged that the Crown is obligated to withdraw all charges if it finds there is no more reasonable prospect of conviction. According to an explanation emailed by a ministry spokeswoman, “in this case there have been a number of recent developments, including the receipt of additional material.”

The ministry elucidated that “the Crown consulted with the police and carefully examined all aspects of the evidence, as well as the applicable law,” adding that “further, I can tell you that the decision to continue or terminate a prosecution can be one of the most difficult for the Crown to make.” On the other hand, The Ministry of the Attorney General did not respond to requests for more information regarding the “additional material.”