The judge overseeing the Vancouver trial of Gary Rudi Groenke, the former Sechelt RCMP officer and football coach accused of sexually assaulting three young boys in the 80s and 90s, adjourned the proceedings after making a decision on the admissibility of evidence on Monday (April 12).
"The judge (Madam Justice Mary Ellen Boyd) made a decision on the voir dire," said Crown Counsel Marion West.
Essentially a trial-within-a-trial, a voir dire in Canadian law is a hearing to determine whether certain evidence can legally be presented at the trial.
It is prohibited for media to report on evidence presented in a voir dire hearing.
Crown was seeking to have the testimony of two witnesses entered as evidence in the trial, however Justice Boyd only allowed one witnesses' testimony.
"It is anticipated that defense has further questions for the witness," said West. "The case is now adjourned until May 3, however that may change, depending on the availability of this witness."
This is the first of three trials for Groenke. Last month, Justice Boyd ruled on a severance application by defense counsel, deciding that Groenke should face three separate trials for each of his alleged victims.
A publication ban has been imposed prohibiting the publication of anything that may identify the alleged victims or witnesses in the trial.
Groenke was acquitted in February 2008 in a Victoria courtroom of similar sex offences against minors.
