Top court orders new trial for francophone B.C. man who was not given French option

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The Supreme Court is ordering a new trial for a francophone man in British Columbia who says he was not informed of his right to have a trial in the official language of his choice.

Supreme Court of Canada quashes sexual assault conviction, orders new trial in French

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 03, 2024 10:41 AM EDT | Last Updated: 32 minutes ago

A building is shown in the background, with a sign that reads Supreme Court of Canada shown in the foreground.

The Supreme Court is ordering a new trial for a francophone man in British Columbia who says he was not informed of his right to have a trial in the official language of his choice.

The top court ruled 5-2 in the decision released today.

Franck Yvan Tayo Tompouba appealed his sexual assault conviction, arguing that his language rights were violated because he was not told his trial could be conducted in French.

The B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the case, so he brought it to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Richard Wagner says in the decision that the court erred in saying it was the accused's responsibility to prove that his language rights had been violated.

The court quashed his conviction and ordered that a new trial be held in French.

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