Final week, a B.C. man was sentenced to 5 years in jail for a 2022 hit-and-run that killed an Irish man.
Alexandre Romero-Arata can also be now going through sentencing in one other case, a sexual assault involving a 16-year-old woman.
Each instances dragged on for longer than anticipated, because the accused modified his legal professionals and sought new illustration 5 occasions.
It’s an element Eugene Byrne, the daddy of the 24-year-old hit-and-run sufferer famous outdoors the court docket, after flying to Vancouver to witness the proceedings.
Romero-Arata’s sixth counsel of report, Sarah Leamon, appeared final week for his sentencing on a responsible plea of legal negligence inflicting dying.
That call was delayed for months after Romero-Arata discharged his earlier authorized counsel
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“An accused particular person can change legal professionals at virtually any time and if there’s been a breakdown within the solicitor-client relationship,” defined Andrew Nelson, a legal defence lawyer and director with the Affiliation of Authorized Support Legal professionals.
“Folks can change legal professionals for all types of causes typically it’s a private battle typically there may be moral points.”
Authorized Support BC says eligible shoppers might solely change counsel in restricted circumstances, and there have to be a legitimate motive for the change.
The group added that it has the discretion to approve or refuse the change for shoppers receiving authorized help.
Former Crown prosecutor Rob Dhanu, Okay.C., mentioned individuals accused of against the law have the constitutional proper to illustration, together with the best to alter counsel.
“There’s no actual restrict to what number of occasions you may change a lawyer as a result of there’s a constitution proper to have a lawyer however on the identical time Authorized Support will put a cease to it in the event that they suppose you’re abusing the system,” he mentioned.
Dhanu acknowledged some individuals accused of against the law might try to make use of a change of lawyer improperly to delay court docket proceedings.
He mentioned the court docket system should steadiness these considerations with an accused particular person’s proper to authorized illustration.
“They simply should be extraordinarily cautious when an accused fires their lawyer as a result of they need to make it possible for that particular person is ready to have the right illustration,” he mentioned.
“In any other case what occurs is that the accused particular person will enchantment the case oftentimes after which the case should restart.”
Whereas Romero-Arata’s lethal driving case has concluded, the sentencing listening to for his sexual assault conviction has been pushed to 2025.
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