A charge of kidnapping against a man who allegedly abducted a 50-year-old woman from University Hospital of Northern British Columbia was stayed Thursday during an appearance in Prince George provincial court.
Lash Leroux, 44, had been facing the count since March 20 when he was arrested on the same day RCMP were called out to search for the woman. A charge of possession of stolen property under $5,000 in relation to the incident was also stayed.
"In this case, Crown counsel has carefully reviewed the file and determined that the available evidence does not meet the charge assessment standard; there is not a substantial likelihood of conviction for the offence," B.C. criminal justice branch spokesman Gordon Comer said in an e-mailed response to a request for comment.
Comer did not elaborate on the specific shortcomings in the case.
On Thursday, Leroux was sentenced to 43 days in jail for dangerous driving and to 14 days in jail for willfully obstructing a peace officer from a March 5 incident and to 45 days in jail time served for dangerous driving from a March 4 incident. Leroux, who had been in custody for 59 days since his arrest, was also prohibited from driving for three years.
At the time of his apprehension, RCMP said he had been seen pushing the woman out of the hospital in a wheelchair and, after a search, the car he was allegedly driving was spotted at a 1100-block Irwin Street home. Leroux and the woman, who was subsequently returned to the hospital, were known to each other, RCMP also said.
Leroux may not be entirely out of the woods yet. Although most matters that have been stayed are not reopened, Crown counsel can, within certain limits, restart the proceedings. The time limit is six months for summary matters and a year for indictable matters.
