Tony Humby to stand trial in March in sexual violence case involving 10 youths

Tony Humby, the 63-year-old Newfoundland man accused of sexual offences involving 10 youths, has new trial dates in 2025.

Dates were set at provincial court in St. John's on Friday morning, with Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock requesting eight weeks in total, broken up over a period between March 3 and May 23. 

Humby was first slated to stand trial this summer, but it was delayed after he switched counsel to defence lawyer Mark Gruchy.

He's pleaded not guilty to all 33 charges — including sexual assault, sexual interference and forcible confinement. 

The allegations date from 2004 until 2022.

Humby's co-accused, 82-year-old Bruce Escott, has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual interference. Escott is due back in court for sentencing Nov. 22.

It remains unclear how many of Escott's 14 charges he intends to plead guilty to. Earlier this summer, the Crown indicated a plea deal had been reached that would see "a number of matters" dealt with at Escott's next court appearance.

Escott and Humby are neighbours in a trailer park on Hussey Drive, near St. John's International Airport.

Both men have been in custody since their arrest in April 2023. Humby is on remand at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, while Escott is housed at the Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre.

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