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By Gopi Chandra Kharel: Subscribe to Gopi's RSS feed | February 1, 2013 9:20 AM GMT
A 74-year-old forensic psychiatrist from Calgary was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for sexual offences against his patients.
Dr. Aubrey Levin was responsible for writing reports about offenders in custody. He worked as a court-appointed psychiatrist and all three victims were referred to him for treatment by the court.
"They came to you for help with their problems, instead you added to their problems," Justice Donna Shelly said Thursday, according to CBC News. "They were entitled to feel safe and supported with you."
"Dr. Levin, your actions in sexually assaulting (the victims) constitute horrible violations of the trust that these patients put in your as their psychiatrist" Justice Donna Shelly told the offender as reported by Calgary Herald.
She said to him: "You, as a psychiatrist, would recognize the serious harm that could result from sexual assault on individuals who were already suffering severe emotional and psychological problems - some of whom had already been sexually abused."
Levin's lawyer filed a notice of appeal after he was sentenced, indicating the psychiatrist's intention to be tried again by a judge and jury. In the notice, the lawyer claimed that the relevant information was not disclosed in the control of the Crown, which precluded Levin from defending himself and making full answer, reports CBC reports.
The notice said that the trial judge pressurized jury members to come to a decision after they had concluded that a unanimous verdict could not be reached. A full and proper cross-examination was also not allowed, his lawyer claimed in the appeal.
After Levin was sentenced, one of the victims speaking to the reporters outside the courtroom said, "It's for the victims who've been silenced. It's much bigger than me"
Initially, he was charged with nine counts of sexual offences, but on Monday he was declared guilty on three counts, not guilty on two and a mistrial was stated on the rest of the four counts.
On Wednesday, the courtroom heard testimonies from the victims.
Defence lawyer Christ Archer is said to have told the judge that his client is guilty of "minor sexual assaults" and requested for a short-term jail sentence served on weekends for 90 days.
While the psychiatrist has been sentenced, his wife Erica Levin too is facing charges for allegedly trying to bribe a juror. She was arrested at her home a week ago and her contempt hearing has been scheduled for March 4
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