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The trial of a former Plaster Rock, N.B., pastor on four charges of sexual touching of a minor has been adjourned until May.
Meanwhile, Frederick Douglas Hanson will return to the Woodstock courthouse on Monday to face two new charges: sexual assault and indecent assault with a female.
Hanson, 61, was on trial this week for two counts of touching for a sexual purpose a person under 14 and two counts of touching for a sexual purpose while being in a position of trust.
'Issues have arisen that are no one's fault, requiring adjournment.'—Justice Terry Morrison, Court of Queen's Bench
But on Wednesday afternoon, the jury returned to the Court of Queen's Bench only to be told by Justice Terry Morrison "issues have arisen that are no one's fault, requiring adjournment."
The trial has been set over until May 3. The same jury will return to court when the trial resumes.
Delay unfair: grandmother
A grandmother of one of three complainants, whose identity is protected by a court order, told reporters she was very unhappy about the delay.
She said she didn't feel it was fair or just to her granddaughter or the other young women waiting to testify.
The charges relate to incidents that are alleged to have taken place between May 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007.
Hanson resigned as pastor of the Plaster Rock Free Will Baptist Church in February 2008 after the RCMP investigation was made public.
Plaster Rock is about 100 kilometres southeast of Edmundston.
The latest charges Hanson is facing relate to incidents alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1, 1988, and Dec. 31, 1990, at or near Upper Brighton and Somerville; and Jan. 1, 1971, and Dec. 31, 1974, at or near Somerville.
About 500 notices have been sent out to potential jurors for that trial.
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