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Hugues Latour out on bail Former Inuvik teacher's abduction charge stayed Katherine Hudson Northern News Services Published Monday, January 28, 2013
Hughes Latour had been in jail since he was arrested in September 2011. He was denied bail when he applied last August. News/North cannot reveal the judge's reasons for granting Latour's release last week due to a publication ban. Latour is to be tried by judge and jury in Yellowknife on Aug. 12. The trial, expected to last up to five days, will be in French, according to Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre. Latour is also awaiting a trial date on four child pornography charges. Latour is appealing a guilty sentence on charges of forcible entry, assault, and failing to follow court conditions. He was convicted in May 2012 and sentenced to 60 days in jail. Lecorre said he argued the appeal in French in Supreme Court on Jan. 24 and expects a decision in writing from Justice Louise Charbonneau at a later date. Regarding an unrelated charge, Justice Karen Shaner ruled on Jan. 23 that Latour's application for a judicial stay of proceedings pertaining to the alleged abduction of his son in 2010 would be granted. Latour applied for the stay on Dec. 17, 2012, the date that was finally set for his trial on the charge - more than two years after the initial charge. Latour claimed his right to be tried within a reasonable time was violated. He was arrested and charged with one count of parental abduction on Dec. 15, 2010. "Ultimately, his trial, which was scheduled initially for Feb. 27, 2012, would not proceed until two years and two days from the charge, on Dec. 17, 2012. This was over a year from the time that the Crown first discovered its scheduling mistake," Shaner wrote in her decision. The scheduling error took place on Dec. 3, 2011, when the Crown discovered that the assigned prosecutor would be away on vacation when the trial was then scheduled to proceed in February 2012 in Inuvik. Shaner said although the charge serious, the case seemed to be uncomplicated for the lawyers: it was one charge set to take place before a judge alone with no expert witnesses or reporters. She also stated that Latour did not contribute to the delays of the case in a significant way. "Society has an interest in ensuring that those accused of crimes are brought to trial;. However, society also has an interest in ensuring criminal proceedings are conducted in a manner that complies with each individual's charter rights," Shaner stated. "In this case, the delay was unexplained, unreasonable and Mr. Latour suffered prejudice." Latour became a resident of Inuvik in 2007 and taught grades 5 and 6 at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. He also worked as Samuel Hearne Secondary School's French immersion teacher. He has not worked at either school since winter 2010.
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