Gymnastics coach to be tried by judge
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on March 18, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A local gymnastics coach accused of sexually assaulting several young girls last year will be tried by a Court of King’s Bench judge.Lethbridge lawyer Scott Hadford, who represents the accused, Jamie Ellacott, made the election on behalf of his client Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court. Hadford noted Ellacott has chosen to not have a preliminary hearing, and the matter was adjourned to April 24 in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench criminal appearance court, ostensibly to enter pleas to his charges. A preliminary hearing is typically held to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.
Ellacott faces five counts each of sexual interference and sexual assault of a person under the age of 16.
He was initially charged last July with single counts of sexual assault and sexual interference after police responded to a report that a seven-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted between May and June of 2022 while attending the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy in the 3200 block of 32 Street North. Ellacott was released from custody on that matter with numerous conditions including he not have any contact with the child, and not have any contact or communication directly or indirectly with any person under the age of 16 unless in the presence of a responsible adult.
In August, police reported three more girls, ages 10, 12 and 14, were sexually assaulted during sessions at the gym in May, and Ellacott was charged again and released on bail with conditions he not have any contact with the girls or witnesses.
The case was last in court on Jan. 5, an adjournment to Thursday’s hearing was granted to allow time for defence to review disclosure before taking a step.
“I have a massive, massive amount of disclosure,” Hadford told the judge during the January hearing. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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