Lahey's Sentencing Delayed
In May former Antigonish Bishop Raymond Lahey pleaded guilty to pssession of child pornography. Lahey surprised the court by voluntarily asking to be incarcerated while waiting for his sentencing hearing.
I have already speculated about the reasons behind this move Lahey Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography
On Friday Lahey was supposed to be back in court for his sentencing hearing. But the hearing has now been delayed because the psychiatrist hired to conduct a psychological examinaition has not provided a copy of his clinical file to the Crown Prosecutors.
Lawyers for the Crown told the court that they had yet to receive Lahey's clinical file from Dr.John Bradford, who examined Lahey at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.
Prosecutors want time to examine the clinical records to properly cross-examine Bradford about his findings in a sexual behaviours assessment.
Lahey faces a mandatory one-year minimum sentence but the judge could sentence Lahey to up to ten years in prison. My colleagues who do criminal defence have told me that a sentence that long would be unusual. But one can always hope...
Comments
The comments under my post about Lahey at Canadian Atheist are worth looking at: http://canadianatheist.com/2011/06/26/justice-delayed-is-justice-denied/
In your speculation at “Lahey Pleads Guilty to possession of Child Pornography,” you say,
"His lawyers can now argue that it (offer to serve his sentence immediately) is an indication of the remorse he feels about [what] he has done. They will also be able to argue that Lahey should get credit for double time while he is incarcerated waiting for sentencing."
It seems suspicious that a prominent psychiatrist like Dr. John Bradford (http://www.imhr.ca/research/researchers-john-bradford-e.cfm)would take so long submitting a report on a high profile case like Lahey’s.
However, now that the report is late, his lawyers can argue that Lahey has suffered pain and anguish waiting for sentencing and for the Vatican to decide the appropriate punishment.
On the other hand, the report may recommend that Lahey undergo psychiatric care and be confined to a psychiatric institution rather than a prison.
Posted by: Veronica Abbass | June 27, 2011 1:31 PM