'We have significant concerns': Lawyers of Manitoba doctor accused of sexual assault question integrity of police investigation
CTV
The lawyers of a Manitoba doctor facing 22 counts of sexual assault say they have 'significant concerns' with the integrity of the police investigation after discovering a year of notes from the lead investigator are missing.
The lawyers of a Manitoba doctor facing 22 counts of sexual assault say they have 'significant concerns' with the integrity of the police investigation after discovering a year of notes from the lead investigator are missing.
Arcel Bissonnette, a doctor formerly working at the Ste-Anne Hospital and the Ste-Anne Medical Centre, was in Manitoba's Court of King's Bench Monday. His trial comes more than two years after an investigation by Sainte-Anne Police led to an initial six counts of sexual assault against him in November 2020.
Then in October 2021, Sainte-Anne Police announced more complainants had come forward resulting in 16 additional charges of sexual assault against Bissonnette.
The charges against him have not been proven in court, and he is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Jacqueline Lawford, who was a constable with the Sainte-Anne Police Service starting in 2016, gave testimony in court Monday about her involvement in the investigation. Lawford said she was the lead investigator on the case against Bissonnette starting in 2017.
As lead investigator, Lawford told the court she would keep an investigative log, detailed notes and a report about the case, and would physically attach photocopies of her notes to the file.
Lawford said after accepting a job with the Manitoba First Nations Police she went to the Sainte-Anne Police Service to pack up her belongings.
