A former groundskeeper at Saint Mary’s University will wait a little more than five weeks to hear his sentence after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in her dorm room two years ago, and recording portions of the offense on his phone.
Judge Elizabeth Buckle agreed to postpone sentencing for Matthew Percy at Halifax Provincial Court on Thursday, where his lawyer said he required more time to gather two new character references on Percy’s behalf.
Buckle agreed that Percy had a right to have those two individuals vouch for him before she delivers a sentence, and has put aside court time on March 26 for oral submissions from the defense and for the Crown to read portions of a victim impact statement.
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The judge, defense and Crown will also deliberate whether that impact statement can be shared with media, as it contains the complainant’s version of events, portions of which have not been verified as fact in a court of law.
Percy was convicted of sexual assault and voyeurism in December last year for the September 2017 incident, in which he is seen on video having intercourse with a young woman in her dorm room while she is unconscious and unresponsive after a night of drinking.
The Crown has recommended a sentence of three years for the sexual assault charge and a consecutive sentence of one year for voyeurism, while the defense has recommended a sentence of no more than two years to be served in a provincial facility.
“Mr. Percy is remanded until next February on other charges that are coming up, so in any event, Mr. Percy most likely wouldn’t be released until next year,” Crown attorney Rick Woodburn told reporters at the courthouse on Thursday.
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Percy is also accused of sexually assaulting two other women, and will face separate trials next year on charges including sexual assault causing bodily harm, choking and assault.
In another incident involving a fourth woman in September 2017, Percy was accused of sexual assault, voyeurism and overcoming resistance by choking.
He was acquitted of those charges in August 2018, but the Crown has appealed that decision. The appeal will be heard Oct. 9, 2019.