Accused serial rapist Paul Batchelor, 35, has been granted bail while awaiting trial on nine counts of sexual assault, but he won’t be getting out of jail right away.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein granted him bail on Wednesday after Ottawa defence lawyer Oliver Abergel presented a plan under which Batchelor would live with his parents on the family farm in Warkworth, Ont., under house arrest with a GPS ankle-bracelet. The strict conditions ban him from being around “females” unless they are blood relatives and prohibit him from accessing the internet from any device with the exception that he’s allowed to watch Netflix.
“Due to COVID-19, Mr. Batchelor has lost his ability to have a speedy trial through no fault of his own. All parties, including the court, Crown and defence, worked co-operatively to come up with a plan that takes into consideration the protection of complainants while also taking into account the rights of the accused. This is a very tough and strict bail and the public will be protected,” Abergel said.
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Read Gary Dimmock’s full article: Ottawa Citizen
