Latest news with #TrevorBirtch
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Former mayor facing sentencing for sex assaults given time to find lawyer
HUNTER: Who is the suspected Barrie Butcher? Well-known to cops, for starters Giada De Laurentiis 'cried' after Mario Batali credited her success to her 'big boobs' Former mayor facing sentencing for sex assaults given time to find lawyer Trevor Birtch was granted an adjournment of his sentencing hearing for convictions stemming from his second sexual assault trial Article content Trevor Birtch's complicated personal life has evolved into a tangled web of legal delays, adjournments, mistrials and unexpected twists through the criminal justice system. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content The disgraced former mayor of Woodstock was back in a London courtroom Friday afternoon on his own where he was granted an adjournment of his sentencing hearing for convictions stemming from his second sexual assault trial that began almost a year ago. Article content Recommended Videos tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Former mayor facing sentencing for sex assaults given time to find lawyer Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content Birtch, 50, was given more time by Superior Court Justice Spencer Nicholson to continue his search for a new defence lawyer after James Battin, his counsel for his four criminal cases, was ordered disbarred by the Law Society of Ontario in May over legal aid payment issues. The need for a defence lawyer is urgent in the case, especially after assistant Crown attorney Kristina Mildred indicated to Nicholson that she would be seeking a prison term for the two sexual assault convictions. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content 'Given that we are seeking a significant penitentiary term in this matter, and I appreciate the events have unfolded in an unexpected way for Mr. Birtch, we have absolutely no issue with the request for an adjournment today,' she said. But that's just one of his cases. A flow chart is almost necessary to track and understand Birtch's long and complex trek through the courts. Birtch was first charged in February 2022 when he was still mayor of Woodstock and after ending a relationship with a 45-year-old woman that began in April 2020 and ended in December 2021. His trial into those matters was the first to heard last year and ended with Superior Court Justice Michael Carnegie convicting him of one count of assault and one count of sexual assault. Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The woman told the court about Birtch trying to force her into performing a specific sex act when they were on a Valentine's Day getaway to a London hotel in 2021. The assault conviction was related to a drive in the country and beach day when the woman was pushed out of the car after refusing sexual activity with Birtch. He was charged again with more sexual assault counts in the spring of 2022 involving a 39-year-old woman who had a history of addiction and health issues – and was also part of Birtch's bizarre and violent personal life starting in 2017 until 2021. Those charges were tried last fall and ended with Nicholson's decision in January where he convicted Birtch of two counts of sexual assault and called Birtch 'an obvious liar.' Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The victim testified that she had several unwanted sexual encounters with Birtch, often when both of them had consumed large quantities of drugs and alcohol supplied by Birtch. It was during her testimony that she said Birtch would snort cocaine while off-camera during online city council meetings. Birtch claimed that the coin bags of white powder were crushed-up over-the-counter pain medication for a bum shoulder. Nicholson found the explanation 'totally unbelievable' and also flatly rejected Birtch's suggestion that all the charges were part of a female-led conspiracy to humiliate him. However, after the second trial, Birtch sought and was granted a mistrial by Carnegie in December on the first set of convictions because potential evidence for that case from a key witness at the second trial emerged during her testimony and was not disclosed by the Crown for the first trial. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content After all of those charges were laid, Birtch sought re-election in the fall of 2022 and was pummelled at the polls. But before the sexual assault cases ever made it to court, there were more charges on October 30, 2023, when Birtch was charged with impaired driving after he was in a two-vehicle crash west of Woodstock. Birtch pleaded guilty in Woodstock in February to having more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood and was dealt a 90-day conditional sentence, a year of probation and a 12-month driving suspension. An hour before the crash, Birtch was in London, where he was charged with two counts of assault and one count of unlawful entry involving yet another woman. Birtch was arrested after an alleged confrontation at a London home where the woman was staying where a witness testified he saw Birtch slap her in the face, then have a tussle with the witness when he told Birtch to leave. Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content An Ontario Court of Justice trial in London on those matters began in February, but was adjourned at the request of the defence, once the Crown closed its case after one witness. The woman was expected to be called to testify by the defence at a later date. Three months later, Battin was disbarred and Justice Jason Miller later declared a mistrial on those matters in June. Birtch was in the Ontario Court on Thursday where the case was put over to Sept. 4 to give him more time to find a defence lawyer. And that was the same predicament on Friday when Birtch was in front of Nicholson without a lawyer. There was yet another twist. Before her judicial appointment was announced earlier this week, Superior Court Justice Jennifer Moser, who is slated to be sworn-in at the end of the month, was the prosecutor for the case and was required to turn over the sentencing to Mildred. Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Birtch told Nicholson that he has had 'a couple of consultations with different lawyers. But the summer scheduling issues, the size of the file and 'the size of the retainers required' have pushed him to seek out 'a few more.' Any lawyer he has spoken to so far asked for a two- to three-month adjournment to review the case. Nicholson said it was 'a very unique situation' and agreed that the case go over to Sept. 19 for an update about Birtch's search for a defence lawyer. jsims@ Read More 'Obvious liar': Judge rips ex-Woodstock mayor, convicts him of sexual assault Ex-Woodstock mayor blames female conspiracy for legal woes Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Sentencing hearing delayed for former Woodstock mayor on sexual assault charges
The once mayor of Woodstock, Trevor Birtch, appeared for his sentencing hearing on two counts of sexual assault on Friday at the London Courthouse without any counsel, after his previous lawyer was disbarred. Minutes after the hearing got underway on Friday, Justice Spencer Nicholson adjourned the proceedings to give the 50-year-old Birtch time to obtain a new lawyer. The proceedings were put over until next month. About a year ago, Birtch was found guilty on two counts of sexual assault involving a woman he was romantically involved with. Another sexual assault trial involving a female he had a relationship with, ended in a mistrial. That case is expected to be retried in court. Birtch has also been convicted of impaired driving in the Woodstock area. The charges and convictions date back to between 2017 and 2023. Birtch, a two-term mayor, held office in the city of Woodstock between 2015 and 2022.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- CTV News
Court bench warrant issued for arrest of embattled former mayor of Woodstock
A bench warrant for the arrest of former Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch was issued Thursday after he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance in London. The 50-year-old Birtch was ordered to appear to set a new trial date for a sexual assault case after a mistrial was declared earlier. He was expected to appear with a new lawyer as well after his previous lawyer James Battin was disbarred. After all of the cases in courtroom two at the London Courthouse were dealt with and Birtch was a no-show, Justice Craig Sigurdson issued the bench warrant for his arrest early in the afternoon. Birtch's legal woes began in 2022, and he's already been convicted of sexual assault and assault involving a woman he was romantically involved with, as well as a conviction to impaired driving. The case he was expected to appear for involves another woman he had a relationship with. The charges and convictions date back to 2017 up to 2023. When he held office, Birtch was a two-term mayor for the city of Woodstock from 2015 until 2022.
CBC
11-02-2025
- CBC
Former Woodstock mayor pleads guilty to impaired driving
The former Woodstock mayor's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit and he was lucky no one was killed when his car smashed into a Jeep near Ingersoll in October 2023, court heard on Tuesday. Trevor Birtch, 49, pleaded guilty to impaired driving and was given three months of house arrest, to be followed by 12 months of probation and community service. He is also banned from driving for a year. "We're fortunate that you have your life and that the other driver does as well," Ontario Court Justice Chris Uwagboe told Birtch. "Impaired driving is a scourge in this community, something I see with regularity here." Court heard that on Oct. 30, 2023, Oxford OPP were called for a car crash with someone possibly trapped in a vehicle. When they arrived, they found a green Jeep on its roof in a ditch, airbags deployed. Nearby, a Chrysler 200 was blocking the road. The key was in the ignition and the interior smelled like beer. Birtch came up to the police officer who responded covered in dirt and mud, slurring so much he couldn't say his own name. His eyes were bloodshot and the officer smelled beer on his breath, court heard. 'I regret this incident' There was a glass of beer in the cup holder and beer splattered throughout the Chrysler 200, court heard. Birtch was arrested and eventually his blood alcohol was taken and found to be 175 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, more than double the legal limit. "I regret this incident, your honour," Britch said. "It's highly abnormal for me. I ask for your help in this matter." Birtch will have to do community service and attend alcohol and drug addiction counselling. Last month, Birtch was found guilty of sexual assault and was called an "obvious liar" after a trial in London. In third case, he was found guilty of assault and sexual assault but the judge declared a mistrial because the Crown failed to disclose all relevant evidence before the trial.
