Regina chiropractor convicted of sexual assault files appeal of conviction, sentence

CTV News

6 days ago

Ruben Manz, a chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting seven women over the span of 10 years, walks near Court of King's Bench in Regina, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
The defense counsel for Regina-based chiropractor Ruben Manz, who was found guilty of sexual assault, has filed an appeal of his conviction and sentence.
In December 2024, after more than 57 hours of being sequestered, a 12-person jury found Manz guilty of one count of sexual assault. Facing a total of seven charges, the jury found him not guilty of five charges but was unable to come to a unanimous decision for the remaining count.
On June 23, Manz was sentenced to 15 months of community service.
The very day he was sentenced, the defense filed an appeal, with hopes of getting both the conviction and sentence reversed.
According to court documents, Manz's lawyer – Thomas Hynes – says trial judge Justice Janet McMurtry erred in law by preventing the defense from presenting evidence at trial relating to a governing body decision about one of the complainants.
'[The judge] curtailed cross examination of the complainant on aspects of the regulatory body's decision when the witness raised it themselves,' the appeal claimed.
Hynes also says, 'the trial judge erred in law in her instructions to the jury on matters of the evidence, the burden of proof, and the elements of the offence.'
The defense also claimed the prosecutions closing arguments 'were improper and caused a miscarriage of justice.'
'The trial judge erred in law by failing to address or correct issues of Crown conduct, including the Crown's opening and closing statements,' the appeal stated. 'And evidence the Crown tendered that was contrary to the trial judge's evidentiary rulings.'
Manz's defense also believes Justice McMurtry failed to call a mistrial and was incorrect in dismissing his application for an exemption to a firearms prohibition.
No dates were set for if, or when, the Court of Appeal would hear arguments regarding the case.
However, counsel says if the appeal is granted, Manz wished to be retried by a jury again.
The Court of King's Bench has also not yet set dates for when the retrial would begin.
- With files from The Canadian Press