The trial of 73-year-old Claro Recto Belen has been adjourned until later this year. Belen is charged with sexual interference, sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, and exposing his genitals to a minor, who was nine at the time of the alleged incident. Justice Holli Kuski Bassitt had given the Crown and defence until 2 p.m. Thursday to come to an agreed statement of facts. When that did not transpire, she ordered the trial adjourned until Nov. 16-17, 2026. Kuski Bassitt has scheduled a conference call for Monday morning, where the two sides will look to agree on a date, prior to Nov. 16 for a one-day voir dire to determine if the alleged victim’s original statement to the police was given voluntarily. The Crown and defence did agree on Thursday the alleged victim would not be brought back to court to be cross examined a second time.
