The Crown has stayed remaining criminal charges against a former Yellowknife city councillor.
Robin Williams had been charged with 14 violent offences. A woman whose identity is protected by a publication ban claimed he had committed the offences against her between 2014 and 2022.
Williams pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
Following a two-week trial, a jury found Williams not guilty of six of those charges including four counts of assault, one of mischief and one of choking or suffocating.
Jury members were unable to come to a unanimous decision on the eight remaining charges, which consisted of four counts of assault, two of sexual assault, one of assault causing bodily harm and one of uttering a threat to cause death.
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In NWT Supreme Court on Monday, Crown prosecutor Brian Bencze stayed those eight charges, meaning they will not be retried, as first reported by the CBC.
In an email to Cabin Radio, Bencze said the decision to stay the charges was made “after carefully reviewing the file and careful consideration of the guidelines set out in the Public Prosecution Service’s Deskbook.”
That deskbook states “a prosecution should not be undertaken unless there is a reasonable prospect of conviction and the prosecution would best serve the public interest.”
Williams’ lawyer, Evan McIntyre, told Cabin Radio on Tuesday that he and his client were “quite pleased” with the Crown’s decision.
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McIntyre said the Crown had an opportunity at trial to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and was unable to do so. He said he believed the expense and resources of holding another trial would not be worthwhile in the circumstances.
“He’s very happy,” McIntyre said of Williams’ response to the charges being stayed.
McIntyre added the media attention surrounding the case has negatively impacted Williams’ business and his standing in the community.
“He’s hopeful to put this behind him,” McIntyre said.
Williams was a city councillor for one term from 2018 to 2022 and did not seek re-election in Yellowknife’s October 2022 municipal election. He is currently the owner of an electronics store.
