琉璃神社 will have to wait until April 4 to hear more details about the sexual assault charges facing former mayor Colin Basran.

Basran did not appear in court on Feb. 21 for the fix a date, and instead was represented by his lawyer.

Attorney Lydia Chu, representing Basran鈥檚 defence lawyer鈥檚 firm Peck and Company, appeared on behalf of the high-profile lawyer Richard Peck and Basran.

Special Crown prosecutor Brock Martland said that the discovery portion of the trial is in progress and would be completed by March 20. He requested that the next court date be pushed to April 4, and Chu agreed.

The incident allegedly happened on May. 11, 2022, the same day that Basran is said to have attended a Tourism 琉璃神社 event at the Coast Capri Hotel.

READ MORE: Ex-琉璃神社 mayor Basran to be defended in sex assault case by lawyer from Air India bombing case

Basran was officially charged with an indictable offence of sexual assault on Dec. 7.

Criminal defence lawyer Timothy Foster explained that sexual assault is a hybrid offence, and because of the wide range of severity it encompasses, trials typically initially proceed as though it is an indictable offence, which is considered more severe, prior to the first court appearance.

A charge of sexual assault encompasses everything from unwanted touching to rape.

After the incident was reported, an investigation was conducted by the 琉璃神社 RCMP before being handed over to the Nelson RCMP for an independent review from investigators who had no previous relationship with Basran.

Basran鈥檚 lawyer Peck has successfully represented big name clients including former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum in a public mischief case and Air India bombing suspect Ajaib Singh Bagri. He also was lead council for the extradition case of Chinese business executive Meng Wanzhou.

Two days before the 2022 municipal election, when Basran was running for re-election, special Crown prosecutor Brock Martland was appointed to the investigation.

The complainant鈥檚 identity is protected by a publication ban.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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