Mustafa Ururyar, York student convicted of sex assault, granted bail

A York University PhD student convicted in a high-profile sexual assault case was granted bail Thursday morning, one day after a Toronto judge handed down one of the harshest sentences possible for the crime.

The conditions of Mustafa Ururyar's bail were confirmed to CBC News Toronto by his appeal lawyer, Mark Halfyard. Ururyar's mother and partner are acting as his sureties, so he can live with them in Vancouver while he awaits his appeal.

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Under the bail conditions, Ururyar must surrender himself into custody on Mar. 17, 2017 if his appeal has not yet been heard by that time.

Ururyar was convicted in July of forcing Mandi Gray to perform oral sex and engage in sexual intercourse on Jan. 31, 2015.

During sentencing Wednesday, Justice Marvin Zuker handed down the 18-month maximum jail term requested by the Crown. 

"In cases of rape, there is little room in the sentencing process for mercy ... Rape is not an accident," he said.

Ururyar's lawyer had argued for a conditional sentence, which would have meant no jail time and is launching an appeal. Ururyar's next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 6.