Former psychiatrist fires lawyer in sex assault trial
Aubrey Levin, 73, is accused of sexually assaulting 10 male patients
CBC News
Posted: Oct 23, 2012 3:16 PM MT
Last Updated: Oct 23, 2012 6:53 PM MT
A former Calgary forensic psychiatrist charged with sexual assault is now representing himself.
The jury learned Tuesday in a Calgary courtroom that 73-year-old Aubrey Levin has fired his lawyer, Alain Hepner.
Levin, who is accused of sexually assaulting 10 male patients, must now represent himself.
While Court of Queen's Bench Justice Donna Shelley didn't tell the jury why Levin fired his lawyer, she told the jury not to read into it.
The court also heard on Tuesday that Levin had asked for an adjournment, but it was denied.
In the trials first hearing on Oct. 10, Levin's lawyer argued his client was too ill to face trial — as he suffers from heart failure, diabetes and kidney problems — but his request to delay the proceedings was denied.
Then in the second hearing, Levin claimed he was not mentally fit to stand trial, claiming he suffered from the early onset of dementia.
Trial continued with more video
On Tuesday afternoon, Levin sat alone while the jury watched video of his interview with police.
It's not the first video played in court, as one of the alleged victims who claims he was sexually assaulted by Levin also captured two encounters on video by wearing a wristwatch with a spy cam.
Those videos were played in court on Oct. 12 and show Levin undoing the man’s belt and jeans and fondling the man.
Most of the alleged victims had a criminal record and were on medication at the time they met with Levin as part of a court order.
Five women and seven men are serving as jurors and the trial is expected to last six weeks.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- 1 person hurt after trains collide near Medicine Hat
- The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is deploying a team to the site of a two-train collision east of Medicine Hat. more »
- Crews respond to Inglewood blaze
- Fire heavily damaged two homes in Inglewood Saturday afternoon near Eighth Street S.E. and MacDonald Avenue. more »
- Homeowner says he was swindled out of his own property
- A Calgary homeowner says he was swindled out of his own property by a realtor he thought was trying to help him. more »
- RCMP investigating after man dies in Gleichen
- RCMP are investigating the death of a 26-year-old man at his home in the town of Gleichen, near Calgary. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Rescue attempt over for New Brunswick fishermen
- The rescue attempt for two missing fishermen has been called off in New Brunswick, hours after one body was found. more »
- Car drives into crowd at Virginia parade
- About 50 to 60 people were injured after a driver described by witnesses as an elderly man drove his car into a group of hikers marching in a parade in a small Virginia mountain town. more »
- Spectator killed at Edmonton Jeep event
- A 20-year-old woman died Saturday during an event for Jeep enthusiasts held in a parking lot just west of downtown Edmonton. more »
- Astronaut Chris Hadfield adjusts to 'earthling' life
- Canada's space ambassador, Chris Hadfield, is still readapting to life on this planet after spending 146 days in zero gravity as commander of the International Space Station. For now, though, he's taking his homecoming one step at a time. more »
- 1 person hurt after trains collide near Medicine Hat
- Homeowner says he was swindled out of his own property
- Crews respond to Inglewood blaze
- Calgary police arrest 2 following minor explosions
- Lock your doors, police warn
- RCMP investigating after man dies in Gleichen
- Fire destroys, damages 2 homes hours after ban lifted
- Evanston victims died by stabbing, police say
- Calgary fire ban lifted

