UPDATE: 2:00 p.m.
A lawyer representing CBC and Global put forward an argument to ease a publication ban effectively blocking the trial of Curtis Sagmoen, 38, however, Justice Alison Beames had put into effect another temporary publication ban Monday covering things heard in today’s presentation.
Justice Beames said she may have been ambitious in her hopes to have a decision regarding the voir dire today. Her remarks will come at a later date.
Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., court will resume to hear Justice Beames’ decision regarding the publication ban, which covers evidence and exhibits presented in the voir dire.
If the ban is lifted, details of last week’s four-day hearing will be allowed to be reported by media.
ORIGINAL:
The trial for 38-year-old Curtis Sagmoen resumes today at 10 a.m. and Justice Alison Beames said she may have her decision on the voir dire trial.
Sagmoen is accused of threatening a sex worker with a shotgun while wearing a mask in August 2017. He has been charged with uttering threats, careless discharge of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, concealing his face and possession of a controlled substance. Sagmoen pleaded not guilty on all five counts on Sept. 9.
The Crown and defence presented their final arguments Thursday, the details of which can’t be revealed due to a temporary publication ban.
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Media outlets, including CBC and Global, will be fighting the publication ban protecting the voir dire hearing on Monday at 10 a.m.
Sagmoen was arrested in October 2017 and has remained in custody in connection to his alleged crimes in late August of that year.
Shortly after his arrest, his parents’ farm was the focus of an extensive search, where police discovered the remains of Traci Genereaux, 18, who had been missing.
No charges have been laid in connection to her death.
Sagmoen has been accused in four separate incidents of threatening or assaulting sex workers.
This includes an incident in Maple Ridge back in 2013, which Sagmoen pleaded guilty to in February.
For those charges, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail followed by 24 months of probation.
Justice Beames said Thursday, following the final arguments, dates in the week of Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, 2019, are being considered for trial proper.
Defence lawyer Lisa Helps said Sagmoen wishes to appear in court on Monday.
— with files from Ashley Wadhwani
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