Trial delayed for woman accused of committing indecent act on aircraft

HALIFAX – The trial of a 25-year-old woman accused of committing an indecent act on a Toronto-to-Halifax flight has been delayed because her lawyer is ill.

Alicia Elizabeth Lander has pleaded not guilty to committing an indecent act, assaulting a police officer, committing an act of mischief and causing a disturbance at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Jan. 24, 2014.

Her trial started on Jan. 21 and was supposed to resume Tuesday, but it was postponed until March 18 after the judge learned lawyer Laura McCarthy was ill.

Last month, the provincial court in Dartmouth heard testimony from Air Canada service director John Dunn, who said about an hour into the flight a passenger told him two people were about to join the “Mile High Club.”

Dunn testified that when he approached Lander and the man sitting next to her, he noticed a jacket was covering their laps, but he said he could tell what was happening underneath.

Jason George Chase had pleaded not guilty to committing an indecent act, but he later changed his plea to guilty and waived his right to a trial.

Chase’s lawyer says he will seek a conditional discharge and his case has been adjourned until March 27.