A defence lawyer representing Robert Miller, the founder of Future Electronics, told a judge on Tuesday that the 81-year-old remains bed-ridden, which is making it difficult to prepare for his trial.
“His health is quite frail, which makes it impossible to prepare for the file,” defence lawyer Isabella Teolis told Quebec Court Judge Mélanie Hébert during a hearing at the Montreal courthouse. “Baby steps does not even begin to describe the situation.
“He is bedridden. We have to see him in his (bed)room.”
The attorney said this after prosecutor Myriam Corbeil informed the court the Crown is ready to set a date for a five-week trial. Corbeil said the Crown is now waiting for the defence to decide whether Miller wants a trial before a judge or a jury.
Teolis made it clear the defence is nowhere close to making that decision.
Miller was arrested in late May on 21 charges of sexual exploitation involving 10 victims, some of whom were minors at the time. The crimes are alleged to have taken place between 1994 and 2016. The charges Miller faces include sexual assault, procuring, sexual exploitation, sexual interference and sexual intercourse with a minor for consideration.
Valérie Abdelahad Acosta, a defence lawyer for Teresita Fuentes, 67, who was charged in the same investigation, said her client is also in poor health and will undergo surgery soon. Fuentes resides at the same Westmount address as Miller.
Corbeil said the Crown is ready to set a date for a three-day trial for Fuentes. She faces one charge alleging she “did procure (a person) to offer or provide for the purpose of facilitating an offence (under a section of the Criminal Code that covers pimping), recruit, hold, conceal or harbour a person who offers or provides/exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person who offers or provides sexual services for consideration.”
The cases against Miller and Fuentes will return to court in December.