Weeks of trial delayed for Calgary man accused of kidnapping, sexual assault

CALGARY – The French-language trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting seven women was postponed indefinitely Monday.

Richard Robert Manta, 59, is facing multiple charges including kidnapping, threats of bodily harm, sexual assault with a weapon and possession of a harmful substance.

Mantha, who has ties to Quebec, was denied bail last summer and has been in custody since his arrest last April.

His trial, which will be held entirely in French, begins on Monday and runs until February 9.

Defense attorney Kim Arial said he has not yet filed that motion with the court, but will file a motion to dismiss to split the case into seven separate courts.

Crown prosecutor Dominic Mathurin said it would take time to review the application after it was submitted.

Judge Judith Schrier said in French and English that the delay was “extremely disappointing” but she agreed to adjourn the trial until Wednesday.

At that time, the court can either hear the application or set a date to determine when it will be heard.

Police say the women say the man approached them, then drugged them, took them to a different location, and physically and sexually assaulted them.

Additional charges were filed after Manta's arrest because there were more complainants. Now he is facing 20 charges against seven women.

A police spokesman said last week that one of the women died in an unrelated incident, but the Crown still plans to proceed with the charges.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 15, 2024.

Canadian Press