Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/04) - A Rae Lakes man charged in connection with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in Yellowknife has been released on bail until the start of his trial in May.

Michel Apples spent the last several months in jail for skipping a series of court sessions -- including his preliminary hearing -- in 2003. He was convicted of four counts of failing to appear in court.

On Thursday morning in Supreme Court, defence lawyer Hugh Latimer successfully argued his client should be released on bail until the start of the trial.

Crown attorney Shannon Smallwood opposed the application, citing Apples' previous history of skipping court appearances.

Details of the case cannot be released due to a publication ban.

It is the latest step in a bizarre case that saw Apples, 32, plead guilty to the sexual assault charge last October on what was supposed to be the opening day of his trial.

At the time, Apples' sentencing hearing was set for Nov. 27 but it didn't go ahead as planned.

In January 2004, Apples applied in Supreme Court to have the guilty plea set aside and a new trial date scheduled, requests that were granted by Justice John Vertes.

Apples is expected to be back in court on May 17 for the start of his trial.