Judge issues warrants for no show witnesses at assault trial of former RCMP officer Jeffrey Gillis
Judge orders warrants after witnesses fail to show
A P.E.I. judge has issued warrants for two witnesses who failed to show up at the assault trial of former RCMP officer Jeffrey Rae Gillis.
Gillis, 43, is charged in connection with two incidents last February in Charlottetown.
Both alleged assaults took place while he was off-duty.
Gillis retired from the force in February.
His trial was supposed to take place Tuesday but two key witnesses failed to appear.
Court officers tried to locate the witnesses so the trial could happen Wednesday, but were unsuccessful.
Provincial court judge Nancy Orr issued warrants for their arrest.
The witnesses' names can't be published due to a court order.
In a separate case, Gillis also faces 12 weapons-related charges. That trial is scheduled for January.
Gillis has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
- Not guilty pleas entered for former RCMP officer Jeffrey Gillis
- Former RCMP officer's weapons trial slated for January
Gillis' lawyer suggested the trial on the assault charges be rescheduled for April.
Orr said that was too far off since the witnesses might be held in custody on the arrest warrants.
The trial is now set for Nov. 15.
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With files from Brian Higgins