By Rosalind Russell – The trial of a Sudbury police officer who lives in Espanola has been delayed for five months.
Melissa Rancourt, a Greater Sudbury Police Service officer, is accused of uttering threats to a minor hockey player and causing a disturbance after a February U-13 hockey game she was coaching in Espanola.
A witness for the Crown failed to show for trial yesterday, leading the court to grant the application for an adjournment by the Crown.
Her trial began Sept. 8, but the court ran out of time and booked yesterday to hear a witness for the Crown, and then time for the Defence to present its case, which would include Rancourt appearing on the stand.
However, Crown attorney David Kirk says he was surprised his witness was not in court, adding there had been no recent contact with the individual.
The judge set March 27 and 28 aside for the renewal of the trial.
Rancourt, who is a constable and who was off duty at the time, was put on suspension with pay by former Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen.