Start of Humby trial remains in limbo as defence seeks more information

Metal shackles rattled as Tony Humby shuffled through a hallway at provincial court in St. John's on Wednesday, passing a group of people set to testify against him.

Humby went inside the courtroom. The witnesses waited outside. 

And that's where they stayed, as the trial that was scheduled to begin 16 days ago was pushed back at least one more day.

"We are here. We have been ready," said Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock during proceedings in the morning. "And a delay here? Delay is the enemy of justice."

The latest holdup stems from a pair of defence applications filed Wednesday morning, in which lawyer Mark Gruchy is asking for more information to be turned over.

Gruchy believes those records could be exculpatory for his client, while the Crown argues it won't change a thing. Badcock filed her own application, asking for both of Gruchy's to be dismissed.

Gruchy defended his applications.

"All I can say is, as defence counsel, we have an obligation, too, and here we are," Gruchy said. "It doesn't have to destroy the entire process at this point."

It's hard to describe the issues at the root of the dispute, since it relates to information that was accidentally disclosed to the defence at the end of February.

Badcock argues the information should remain confidential, and Gruchy says lawyers should take their arguments behind closed doors to figure out what happens next. 

Gruchy came into possession of a document related to one of the complainants in the case, which contained a police officer's summary of a social worker's notes. 

In the second application, Gruchy is asking for a police file related to a break-in at Humby's residence shortly after his arrest in April 2023. That was after his arrest, but before police got search warrants and secured the property. 

Judge Rolf Pritchard will make a decision Thursday morning on whether or not to dismiss Gruchy's applications. 

If that's the route he takes, the trial can begin right away. 

If he allows the defence applications to proceed, they'd need to schedule hearings and subpoena people to compile records and testify. Badcock warned that could take weeks.

Humby's trial was scheduled to begin in early March, but the Crown and defence agreed to a postponement so they could work on some key issues behind the scenes.

It was then scheduled to begin on Tuesday, but was postponed one more day until Wednesday. 

The court has set aside seven weeks for the trial over a 12-week period, stretched between the beginning of March and the end of May.

Humby is facing 72 charges related to the alleged sexual exploitation and abuse of 11 youths.

CBC Investigates previously reported that the complainants have accused Humby of grooming them with drugs, alcohol and cash to convince them to perform sexual acts with him. Humby is also facing a number of additional charges — including child trafficking — which will be dealt with at a later date. 

WATCH | The CBC's Ryan Cooke reports on the latest in the Humby trial:

Humby trial delayed again as defence asks for more information

15 hours ago

Duration 1:15

The first day of a trial for a man accused of crimes against vulnerable teens did not go ahead on Wednesday. Instead, a complicated series of applications were filed by the Crown and defence, with emotions running high. Ryan Cooke reports.

He was accused alongside his neighbour, Bruce Escott, in the Ann Jeannette trailer park on the outskirts of St. John's. 

Escott pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 years in prison earlier this month. 

In an agreed statement of facts signed by Escott, it states the two men worked together to abuse vulnerable teens for years.

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