The trial of former Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer on charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a 17 year-old girl is in its third day.
Supreme Court Justice Mona Lynch had to decide if missing evidence and deleted Facebook messages would be allowed into evidence.
Crown Attorney Roland Levesque says Collyer’s work cell phone went missing shortly after he was informed he was being investigated, and numerous Facebook messages between he and the minor had been deleted from both their accounts.
“So it would have been an item that could have provided them with corroborative evidence. The fact that is was reported as being lost, that evidence was obviously not available.”
David Bright, Collyer’s attorney argued there is no proof his client deliberately destroyed or lost his cell phone.
John Collyer consults with his lawyer David Bright at Bridgewater Supreme Court July 10, 2019
After an hour of deliberation, Lynch decided to allow the evidence to be used.
The trial resumes tomorrow and is expected to run into next week.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
