- 注册
- 2002-10-07
- 消息
- 402,179
- 荣誉分数
- 76
- 声望点数
- 0
Joshua Boyle, the former Afghanistan hostage who was rescued along with his family after five years of apparent captivity, is facing new criminal charges in Ottawa — including sexual assault with ropes, attacking someone with a broomstick and criminal harassment.
Boyle, 34, was arrested by Ottawa police in late December on 15 criminal charges, including sexual assault, forcible confinement and administering a noxious drug. Boyle, the son of an Ottawa judge, was also charged with misleading police on Dec. 30 after reporting that someone was suicidal and missing. Boyle concocted the story to “divert suspicion from himself,” police allege.
Prosecutors filed the new charges Friday, bringing the total number of charges to 19. Boyle also made a brief appearance in court on Friday via video from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.
Boyle has been found fit to stand trial but will undergo an intensive psychiatric assessment to address any mental health issues.
Lawrence Greenspon, his defence lawyer, addressed reporters after the court hearing. “He’s been through five years as a hostage and it should be no surprise to anybody that … it’s affected his mental health,” Greenspon said.
The alleged crimes date back to Oct. 14 — two days after Boyle called his family in Canada to tell them he had been freed.
Boyle was reportedly abducted by a Taliban-linked group while on a backpacking trip with his pregnant wife. His children were born and raised in captivity until their rescue by Pakistani commandos.
Boyle had previously been in the public spotlight because of his brief marriage to Omar Khadr’s older sister. He and his family also met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month following their rescue, after the Canadian government worked to secure their release.
The charges against Boyle previously involved two alleged victims, but that has been reduced to one after the Crown dropped an assault charge involving a minor.
There is a publication ban on the name of the alleged victim, and none of the charges has been proved in court.
Boyle’s legal team says he is eager for the “full story” to be presented in court.
When Boyle and his family were released after five years of reported captivity, American intelligence officials publicly said they had long suspected Boyle had entered Afghanistan with the desire to hook up with “Taliban-affiliated militants.”
Despite the length of their captivity, it remains unclear if ransom was ever demanded by their kidnappers.
When asked by ABC News following his rescue why he was in Afghanistan, Boyle refused to answer.
Boyle did allege in a public statement at the time that the Haqqani network in Afghanistan had killed his infant daughter and raped his wife during their captivity.
The Taliban has denied Boyle’s accusations.
In a statement to ABC News, Boyle’s wife Caitlan Coleman said: “I can’t speak about the specific charges, but I can say that ultimately it is the strain and trauma he was forced to endure for so many years and the effects that that had on his mental state is most culpable for this.”
gdimmock@postmedia.com
http://www.twitter.com/crimegarden
查看原文...
Boyle, 34, was arrested by Ottawa police in late December on 15 criminal charges, including sexual assault, forcible confinement and administering a noxious drug. Boyle, the son of an Ottawa judge, was also charged with misleading police on Dec. 30 after reporting that someone was suicidal and missing. Boyle concocted the story to “divert suspicion from himself,” police allege.
Prosecutors filed the new charges Friday, bringing the total number of charges to 19. Boyle also made a brief appearance in court on Friday via video from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.
Boyle has been found fit to stand trial but will undergo an intensive psychiatric assessment to address any mental health issues.
Lawrence Greenspon, his defence lawyer, addressed reporters after the court hearing. “He’s been through five years as a hostage and it should be no surprise to anybody that … it’s affected his mental health,” Greenspon said.
The alleged crimes date back to Oct. 14 — two days after Boyle called his family in Canada to tell them he had been freed.
Boyle was reportedly abducted by a Taliban-linked group while on a backpacking trip with his pregnant wife. His children were born and raised in captivity until their rescue by Pakistani commandos.
Boyle had previously been in the public spotlight because of his brief marriage to Omar Khadr’s older sister. He and his family also met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month following their rescue, after the Canadian government worked to secure their release.
The charges against Boyle previously involved two alleged victims, but that has been reduced to one after the Crown dropped an assault charge involving a minor.
There is a publication ban on the name of the alleged victim, and none of the charges has been proved in court.
Boyle’s legal team says he is eager for the “full story” to be presented in court.
When Boyle and his family were released after five years of reported captivity, American intelligence officials publicly said they had long suspected Boyle had entered Afghanistan with the desire to hook up with “Taliban-affiliated militants.”
Despite the length of their captivity, it remains unclear if ransom was ever demanded by their kidnappers.
When asked by ABC News following his rescue why he was in Afghanistan, Boyle refused to answer.
Boyle did allege in a public statement at the time that the Haqqani network in Afghanistan had killed his infant daughter and raped his wife during their captivity.
The Taliban has denied Boyle’s accusations.
In a statement to ABC News, Boyle’s wife Caitlan Coleman said: “I can’t speak about the specific charges, but I can say that ultimately it is the strain and trauma he was forced to endure for so many years and the effects that that had on his mental state is most culpable for this.”
gdimmock@postmedia.com
http://www.twitter.com/crimegarden
查看原文...
