Torture trial underway
Posted Sep 27, 2011 1:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The trial of a man accused of torturing his roommate is underway in a Calgary courtroom.
31-year-old Dustin Paxton faces several charges including aggravated assault, forcible confinement and sexual assault causing bodily harm.
His former roommate and business partner was dropped off at a hospital in April of last year, brain damaged, disfigured and emaciated.
The trial began with the Crown Prosecutor Joe Mercier telling the judge his team plans to call 50 witnesses to the stand in the coming weeks, many of whom, he says, will give testimony of the abuse and domination allegedly imposed by Paxton on his victim, who can not be named.
Just prior to the proceedings, the Crown’s first witness provided a diary to prosecutors.
An early recess was granted to allow Paxton’s lawyers to review the journal before that witness would take the stand.
The trial is expected to last five weeks.
