Technical issues in Newmarket courthouse addition cause more delays
Yorkregion.com
May 14, 2015
By Jeremy Grimaldi
Technical problems and an alleged rodent infestation continue to plague the Newmarket courthouse and its new addition.
This week has seen another raft of delays with the Const. Garrett Styles murder trial and a sex assault trial, both taking place in the new, multi-million dollar wing of the courthouse on Eagle Street.
The Styles trial was delayed on at least three occasions after audio-visual equipment went down Tuesday.
Yesterday, microphones stopped working, causing further problems and forcing the trial back to the fourth floor in future.
In another embarrassing episode, the judge in the trial, Justice Alex Sosna, was forced to sit in his chambers for an extended period due to a problem with the prisoner transportation lighting system unique to the courtrooms in the addition.
This forces justices and prisoners to use the same hallway, but never at the same time.
Staff at the courthouse have also reported seeing a rat on the fourth floor.
The reports come despite the Ministry of the Attorney General placing a full-time information technology contractor in the courthouse to help with technology issues.
Yorkregion.com reported weeks ago on further problems that also involved trials being halted or delayed due to outdoor noises affecting sound levels inside.
One involved a storm growing so loud, testimony could not be heard, while another involved a flock of Canada geese landing on the roof, mimicking the sound of thunder and excessively honking.
The story also involved complaints from justices and Crown lawyers about ongoing technical glitches in major trials and questioning the suitability of the courthouse to house major trials.
A major mould problem was dealt with in the courthouse years ago, costing the province more than $100,000 in 2010.
Although no figure on the cost of the new addition, completed in late 2014, has been provided, court staff estimates it ran the province $10 million.
