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By: Jane Sims
LONDON, ONT. — Just as he did at his first sexual assault trial, Woodstock’s disgraced former mayor plans to testify at a second trial that began Tuesday morning.
Trevor Birtch, 49, pleaded not guilty to three charges of sexual assault, all involving one woman. Her identity is protected by court order.
She is the second complainant to come forward against the former mayor, who was convicted last month of assault and sexual assault involving a different woman.
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Superior court Justice Spencer Nicholson was told Tuesday by defence lawyer James Battin that Birtch would be testifying at the trial, which is slated to last four days.
Assistant Crown attorney Jennifer Moser outlined the case in her brief opening statement.
Moser said one charge stems from an incident on Aug. 15, 2021, just outside Turkey Point, in Norfolk County.
The second charge is connected to an incident on April 5, 2022, both inside and outside a motor vehicle when Birtch picked up the complainant near her home in Woodstock, and then at her home.
The allegations are of unwanted sexual intercourse and other acts.
The third charge encompasses a period from Jan. 1, 2017, to April 22, 2022, that Moser said covers any other unwanted sexual activity between Birtch and the complainant.
This is a judge-alone trial. Nicholson was expected to hear evidence Tuesday about text and audio messages between Birtch and another woman in which Moser said Birtch confesses to the sexual activity.
Bitch was a two-term mayor of the Oxford County city until his defeat in the 2022 civic election, held after he was charged.
While he was convicted of two counts last month by Justice Michael Carnegie, he was acquitted of one count of sexual assault. A sentencing date for the two convictions won’t be set until Sept. 10.
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