HALIFAX - A five-day marathon session on the witness stand came to an end Monday for a young woman who is accusing a Halifax lawyer of drugging and sexually assaulting her.
The woman began testifying at the trial of Lyle Howe last week.
Both the Crown and defence admit that much time on the stand is unprecedented in such a case, but insist it was necessary.
“I’ve never seen someone on the stand for 18 hours,” says Prosecutor Dan Rideout.
“I’ve seen before six or seven hours, so certainly very much an anomaly.”
Much of the woman’s testimony focused on text messages sent between the complainant and the accused.
During cross-examination, the defence questioned the alleged victim’s memory of the night of the alleged assault.
The trial continued Monday with the woman’s former roommate taking the stand.
He broke down twice while testifying, admitting to being drunk on the night of the alleged assault.
Under cross-examination, he also admitted he had been drinking prior to testifying Monday.
He’ll be back on the stand when the trial resumes Tuesday.
Lyle Howe has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and administering a stupefying drug.
