DARMOUTH, N.S. -- Two charges against a mixed martial arts fighter from Prince George were dismissed Monday in Dartmouth provincial court.
James Christopher Hanson, 29, of Prince George was scheduled to stand trial on charges of assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement, from an incident involving a woman at a Dartmouth hotel on Sept. 27, 2009.
But Crown attorney Michelle James told the court the 30-year-old complainant was not available to testify because of health issues.
"I've given quite a bit of thought to the matter," James said. "I'm just not convinced that I would be able to get her here in a reasonable time frame, given some of the ongoing issues.
"So in those circumstances, the Crown is not in a position to offer any evidence in relation to this matter."
Associate Chief Judge Pam Williams then dismissed the charges at the request of defence lawyer Mark Knox.
Hanson and another fighter from Prince George, 34-year-old Garry Christopher Peak, still face charges of aggravated sexual assault and forcible confinement involving another woman at the same hotel the same day.
That trial was supposed to be held last month but was adjourned because the alleged victim, a 34-year-old woman, was recovering from unrelated surgery. The trial is now set for Oct. 19 to 21 in Dartmouth court.
Peak and Hanson were in Halifax for a fight card when they allegedly met two women at a bar and took them back to their hotel room at the Hampton Inn & Suites. One of the women was allegedly sexually assaulted and suffered broken ribs, a collapsed lung and cracked spine.
The alleged victim of the sexual assault pleaded guilty recently to assault causing bodily harm for attacking the other woman while they were at the hotel. She received two years' probation and was ordered to perform 30 hours of community service.
