SUMMARY

This bill will prevent a person accused of sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated sexual assault or criminal harassment, who has been identified by the victim or by a witness to the offence, from being released on bail. These offences, in cases where there is identification, are added to the list of very serious offences such as murder, attempted murder, treason and inciting mutiny for which no release may be given under section 515, and that section is amended to provide that there is no judicial release available in such cases.

The result would be that the accused would not be released unless the charge was withdrawn or the accused was acquitted at trial.

Section 522, which presently allows a judge of a court of superior criminal jurisdiction the discretion to allow bail in cases of these very serious offences, is repealed.