Further delay in Ighani trial

The stalled trial of Afshin Malecki Ighani faced another adjournment today.

Judge Nitya Iyer reluctantly agreed to grant Ighani’s request for an adjournment today, Oct. 21, after the self-represented accused claimed he needed more time to prepare for the case.

Ighani faces sentencing on 10 charges including kidnapping and weapons offences related to an incident that took place in and around Princeton on April 22, 2017.

Ighani is accused of forcing Jodie Walker and her boyfriend Christopher William Gliege to drive him from Okanagan Falls to the Lower Mainland. The Crown alleges he forced Gliege out of the vehicle by gunpoint on a remote road in Manning Park, firing a shot over his head at one point.

His trial has been ongoing since Dec. 3, 2018, and was adjourned after Ighani fired his lawyer near the trial’s conclusion on May 19, 2019.

Judge Iyer questioned Ighani at length about his reasons for the delay, noting he originally expressed a desire to find a new lawyer rather than go the route of self representation.

Ighani insisted he wasn’t attempting to delay proceedings, saying he was innocent of the charges, didn’t want to spend time in jail and “was trying my best because I want to proceed with this matter.”

Crown Prosecutor John Swanson told court he felt the trial should proceed as today’s date for continuance had been scheduled since July 22, 2019.

Originally considering an adjournment of only a single day, Judge Iyer said another issue regarding cross examination of a key witness by defence needed clarification before the trial could continue, promising proceedings would be completed before Christmas.

Ighani also faces a second trial, set for Nov. 25, over two incidents involving charges of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and assaulting a peace officer. He assured court he was in the process of retaining counsel for those matters.

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