A lawyer fighting tickets issued to a Prince George nightspot for allegedly violating COVID-related restrictions says she is now seeking to have the trial heard by a bilingual judge.
Saron Gebresellassi, who is representing the owner of Lambda Cabaret, now known as Club 1177, said Thursday she filed an application seeking the favour the same day a provincial court judge turned down her request to have the trial heard in French.
Given the circumstances, it only makes sense, according to Gebresellassi.
"This is a no brainer. You have a Francophone Crown (prosecutor), you have a Franchophone defence - I'm Francophone - you have an organization that is a bilingual beast - like many organizations in Canada - you have Francophone witnesses, you have documents that are only in French, documents that are in English," she said. "How else would a judge be able to read French documents if he's not bilingual?"
On Tuesday, Provincial Court Judge Martin Nadon rejected her application to have the trial heard in French because ownership of the nightspot is "closely held" by a woman, Linda Allen, who speaks only English. Gebresellassi had argued for a trial in French largely on the basis that a key witness' mother tongue is that language.
Nadon said his decision still allows for an interpreter to be brought in but Gebresellassi said her preference is to have the trial held before "bilingual decision makers."
Through her company, Learn to Earn Bartending School and Consulting, Allen is contesting two tickets the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issued the nightspot on Sept. 25, 2021 for alleged violations of COVID-related restrictions.
On the trial's format, Gebresellassi said she hopes to have the matter settled before April 24 when she said a pre-trial conference is to be held.
