Robert Miller, billionaire accused of sex crimes against minors, unfit to stand trial, judge rules

Robert Miller, the Montreal billionaire accused of multiple sex crimes, is too sick to stand trial, Quebec Superior Court Justice Lyne Décarie ruled Tuesday. 

Speaking to reporters after Décarie's decision, chief prosecutor Dominique Potvin said that Miller has the most advanced stage of Parkinson's disease as well as heart and respiratory problems. He is bedridden, incontinent, needs to receive oxygen periodically, struggles to write and can only say a few words at a time without getting exhausted, he said. 

"It would be impossible to transport Mr. Miller daily to the Palais de justice [courthouse] for the entire duration of the trial," Potvin said.

In these circumstances, it would not be in the interest of justice to mobilize the jurors and witnesses for an indeterminate period of time without any reasonable prospect of one day being able to bring the trial to conclusion, he said.

Miller was facing 24 charges related to sex crimes involving 11 women, most of whom were minors at the time of the alleged crimes which took place between 1994 and 2016.

"This should in no case dissuade victims from reporting the crimes they suffer," Potvin said, highlighting that the filing of charges was possible despite the passage of time.

He said the stay of proceedings, which the Crown and Miller's defence team had both previously recommended, arises from an "exceptional" situation.

"The victims can hold their head high in this case. They were believed and their determination was not in vain," he said.

WATCH | Judge rules Robert Miller too sick to stand trial: 

Montreal billionaire accused of sex crimes too sick to stand trial, judge rules

1 month ago

Duration 1:31

Robert Miller, 81, was facing 24 charges related to sex crimes involving 11 women, most of whom were minors at the time of the alleged crimes.

Miller was first charged with sex crimes in the spring of 2024 — 15 years after Montreal police first began investigating him.

At the time, in 2009, police executed a search warrant at the headquarters of Miller's company, Future Electronics, and interviewed some of his alleged victims. The investigation was closed in 2010 and no charges were laid.

Speaking Tuesday, Crown attorney Delphine Mauger said prosecutors can only bring forward charges against a person if they feel they have enough evidence to argue their case in court and prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

"My impression is that from a Crown perspective, we had done our job," she said. 

Tuesday's stay of proceedings effectively ends the criminal trial. Miller had not previously appeared in court, but on Monday, he appeared via video conference.

Miller pleaded not guilty and has denied the allegations against him. 

The 81-year-old businessman is also the subject of two civil lawsuits, including a class action with more than 50 plaintiffs which was authorized to proceed by the Superior Court. Miller is appealing that authorization and contests the allegations of the suit. 

Jeff Orenstein, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the class action, said the stay of proceedings in the criminal trial doesn't affect the suit.

"Here we're just talking about something financial … and there's ways that [Miller] can tell his story," he said, adding that some written testimony from Miller has already been gathered.

Orenstein says the Court of Appeal should hear that case toward the end of this year.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.