Sexual assault charge stayed against former Kelowna mayor

KELOWNA — The Crown has entered a stay of proceedings on a sexual assault charge against former Kelowna mayor Colin Basran.

The BC Prosecution Service said special prosecutor Brock Martland made the decision to direct the stay after receiving further information from counsel for the accused and police investigators.

“After receiving this information, the special prosecutor conducted a careful review of all the materials and information available and concluded that the charge assessment standard for proceeding with criminal charges could no longer be met,” Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel with the BCPS, said

The service uses a two-part test to determine whether criminal charges will be approved, and a prosecution initiated or continued: 1. whether there is a substantial likelihood of conviction; and, if so, 2. whether the public interest requires a prosecution.