A Calgary court has scheduled a crucial hearing for next month in the high-profile case of a man accused of being a serial rapist, finally setting a date for final arguments after a series of significant delays.
New Hearing Date After Multiple Postponements
Legal representatives for both the Crown and defence appeared before Justice Judith Shriar on Friday, where they successfully scheduled a half-day hearing for December 11. This proceeding will supplement extensive written submissions already being prepared by the legal teams.
The case against Richard Robert Mantha has been plagued by interruptions. The most recent delay occurred earlier this month when scheduled submissions had to be adjourned due to a COVID-19 lockdown affecting Mantha's unit at the Calgary Remand Centre. While that specific lockdown has since been lifted, it was just one of many hurdles that have stalled the judicial process.
A Complex Case with Serious Allegations
Mantha faces a total of 20 criminal charges involving allegations of sexual assault and kidnapping concerning seven different women. The disturbing accusations include incidents that allegedly occurred on a rural property east of Calgary, where the accused had rented a Quonset hut off Vale View Road.
The path to this final arguments stage has been anything but straightforward. Earlier this year, the proceedings were interrupted when Mantha suffered a stroke. The medical event left him unable to speak, and he now communicates in court through a series of squeaks. Despite this profound communication challenge, Justice Shriar previously ruled that Mantha remained capable of communicating through his legal counsel and was therefore still fit to stand trial.
Procedural Timelines and Legal Shake-ups
According to the new schedule, Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin has until November 24 to file written arguments with the Calgary Court of Justice. Defence counsel Justin Dean must then submit his written responses by December 1, setting the stage for the oral arguments scheduled for December 11.
The case has also seen significant changes in legal representation. At one point, Mantha fired his entire Francophone legal team, ultimately agreeing to complete his trial in English after initially asserting his right to be tried in his mother tongue. This transition further complicated the already complex proceedings.
For the brief scheduling proceeding held on Friday, Mantha's physical presence in the courtroom was not required, and he remained at the remand centre.
