A sexual assault trial for Mike Smith, the actor behind the character Bubbles on “Trailer Park Boys,” was supposed to begin on Thursday morning, but the Crown said it would not be presenting any evidence. After that, Judge Jill Hartlen dismissed the case. Smith, 54, had faced a single count of sexual assault from an alleged incident in December 2017. He was charged last October and had pleaded not guilty four months later. Smith did not appear in Dartmouth provincial court on Thursday. “Mr. Smith is pleased that this matter is now behind him, and he’s ready to move forward,” said his defence lawyer Stan MacDonald. Crown attorney Bryson McDonald told reporters that a development this week led the prosecution to change its position. Based on an “ongoing assessment” of the case, the prosecution determined there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction, he said. “The Crown has had conversations with the complainant,” McDonald said. “We have an ongoing obligation to do so. We have met with the complainant multiple times throughout the process. “However, I’m not going to go into the specific conversations and private communications with the complainant.” “Based on some, basically, the ongoing information, evidence that was provided to us, that kept coming in throughout the process, that’s how we arrived at this determination,” he said. A police officer, a civilian and the complainant were originally set to testify, McDonald said. “This should not speak broader to other sexual assault complainants or survivors,” he said. “It’s on a case-by-case basis. This particular result has no impact on any other cases involving any other sexual violence complainants and survivors.” Trailer Park Boys Inc. issued a statement after court, saying in part, “Now that he is cleared of this matter, Mike is resuming his responsibilities with Trailer Park Boys Incorporated. “The company will provide no further comment regarding the concluded proceedings.” Prior charge dropped In April 2016, Smith faced a battery charge in Los Angeles for an incident at a Hollywood hotel involving a woman. The misdemeanour domestic battery charge was dropped a month later. At the time, the Los Angeles City attorney’s office said it decided not to pursue the charge “due to lack of sufficient evidence.” Smith denied any wrongdoing in a written statement issued shortly after his arrest on April 1, 2016, saying the woman involved in the incident was a friend with whom he had a “loud and heated dispute.” “At no time did I assault her,” Smith’s statement said. ”I am not guilty of the misdemeanour charged against me.” Not long after news of Smith’s arrest surfaced in 2016, his co-star at the time, Lucy DeCoutere, announced she was leaving the television show. DeCoutere took to social media at the time to say: “If I find out that somebody is abusive, I cut them out of my life.” She later insisted she remained friends with the cast and crew of the “Trailer Park Boys,” despite saying her departure was linked to Smith’s arrest. With files from The Canadian Press For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
