Law office staff take stand for defence at lawyer's sexual assault trial
Warning: The content of this story involves alleged sexual assault and the details may be disturbing to some.
Two women who worked at Robert Regular's Conception Bay South law office during the time a woman alleges she was sexually assaulted took the stand for the defence Monday in St. John's.
Renee Haines, who worked as Regular's office manager and now manages of one of Regular's commercial property companies, was the first witness for the defence at Supreme Court.
She testified that Regular sent a notice to staff in May 2021 notifying them of his criminal charges.
Haines said she located the calendar for July 24, 2008, the date in which one of the alleged assaults reportedly occurred, as well as the files for the clients who had appointments that day to cross-reference the date signed on those documents.
She testified that Regular's calendar showed multiple appointments that day and she recalled one appointment with a regular client went particularly long.
"When you found the calendar, did you alter it in any way?" asked defence counsel Rosellen Sullivan.
"No," Haines replied.
Haines said she did not see the complainant that day.
There was an afternoon calendar entry, however, in September 2012 for the complainant and her mother.
The complainant, who is now in her mid-30s, testified last week that Regular sexually assaulted her on four occasions, the first when she was 12 in her mother's vehicle parked near his law office.
The woman said he digitally penetrated her five years later, when she was 17, in his office. She said she told him no and tried to block him.
Regular is also alleged to have sexually assaulted the woman on two other occasions, in 2012 and 2013, at his law office.
Regular denies all allegations.
Lawyer Robert Regular is on trial in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court for sexual assault and sexual interference. (Mike Simms/CBC)
Sullivan questioned Haines about the location and layout of Regular's current and former office, as well as the specifics of a table in the law office that she described as being similar to a "kitchen or dining room" table in height. The complainant testified she was assaulted on a coffee table or one of similar height.
On cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock suggested Haines and Regular have "deep and long standing" ties.
"You have an interest in how this case goes," Badcock suggested. Haines denied that, and said she has other sources of income.
Haines said she could only testify to the documents and files she reviewed as she cannot independently remember the days when the alleged assaults happened.
On questioning by Badcock, Haines said it is possible for the digital calendar to be altered without anyone knowing but said she has "never, ever been asked to change something in a calendar."
Unpaid bills
Kimberley Walsh, who worked as Regular's bookkeeper for more than a decade, was the second witness for the defence, and walked the court through invoices she sent the complainant for unpaid legal bills.
Walsh testified Regular wrote off "very little" in terms of unpaid bills and said the business would take clients to court if the amount owed succeeded $1,000.
Using notes and copies of invoices, Walsh walked the court through the multiple attempts she made over 2007, 2008 and 2009 to contact the complainant over two unpaid bills. Those attempts included phone calls, regular mail and registered mail.
The complainant told the court during her testimony that Regular told her she did not have to worry about the bill during a meeting in which she said he sexually assaulted her.
Walsh testified she kept Regular apprised of her multiple attempts to collect the money, and at one point, the amount surpassed $1,000 but said Regular told her to "leave it alone." She said she was not instructed to take the case to small claims court.
The defence is expected to continue calling witnesses Tuesday.
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