Montreal billionaire Robert Miller will have to undergo a trial lasting more than a month for alleged sexual abuse of around ten victims, the Crown estimates, while the defense asked for more time to prepare given the fragile health of the ‘accused.
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“He is bedridden, his health is precarious, it would take two and a half months full time to go through the evidence with him,” explained Me Isabelle Teolis of the defense, this Tuesday, at the Montreal courthouse.
The lawyer represents Robert Miller, the founder of Future Electronics, now 81 years old. The billionaire faces 21 charges, including sexual exploitation, sexual interference, sexual assault and attempting to induce a person into prostitution.
The crimes allegedly occurred over a period of 20 years, when most of the complainants were minors. One of them was even less than 14 years old.
However, if the file is not “complex”, it is nevertheless voluminous, the defense explained this Tuesday. For example, the complainants’ statements, recorded on video, lasted “several hours”, the court was told.
And given the billionaire’s fragile health, it is “difficult, if not impossible” to make him consult all the evidence amassed against him.
Deadline granted
The Crown, for its part, does not want to drag out the case, so much so that it has announced itself ready to proceed with a trial, which should last at least 25 days. Given the availability in court, it was illusory to believe that it would be possible to have a trial this year.
Faced with this situation, judge Mélanie Hébert granted a short delay to the defense, until December. The parties will then return to court to review the case.
Miller’s alleged accomplice, Teresita Fuentes, 67, is expected to face a three-day trial, as she is only involved with one plaintiff.
However, the court was told she became seriously ill after being charged, and would have to undergo “aggressive” surgery. She will also return to court at a later date.
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