Halifax lawyer charged with sexual assault, administering noxious substance

HALIFAX – A Halifax defence lawyer is one of two people charged after an alleged sexual assault eight months ago.

Police said Monday that 26-year-old Lyle Howe and 28-year-old Jeffrey Kendall Brown are each charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. Brown faces an additional charge of theft under $5,000 in connection with the incident.

A 20-year-old woman alleged she was assaulted on March 21 after meeting up with two men.

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Investigators say she went to hospital the following day after waking up and believing she had been sexually assaulted at a home in the Fairview area of the city.

Two suspects were arrested last Thursday and are due back in provincial court on Dec. 15.

Howe is the defence lawyer for Nova Scotia politician Trevor Zinck, who faces charges of theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust stemming from the province’s spending scandal. Howe did not return messages seeking comment.

On Monday, Zinck said Howe has his support.

“I’m standing beside him,” Zinck said.

Zinck said he didn’t think the situation would affect his case, which is scheduled to begin with a preliminary hearing beginning June 11.

“He’s put in a solid effort over the last year-and-a-half with my representation,” he said. “I’m happy with that and I’m sure he can get through this too.”