Gary Janvier is escorted by multiple Deputy Sheriffs as he leaves Court of King's Bench. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Trial proceeds for man accused of multiple counts of sexual assault

Mar 18, 2025 | 4:41 PM

Just over two years after a disturbing chain of events in Prince Albert, involving multiple accusations of assault, sexual assault and confinement, the man alleged responsible is appearing for trial.

Four days have been set aside for Gary Janvier’s case at Court of King’s Bench. He was arrested in February of 2023 and all four incidents happened on the same day.

The 35-year-old is representing himself and entered not guilty pleas to a number of serious charges including sexual assault, forcible confinement, possession of a weapon (knife), resisting a peace officer, and failing to comply with a release order.

The first incident on Feb. 18, 2023, happened in the 1800 Block of Central Avenue, and involved both a sexual assault and assault with a weapon.

Then shortly after 1p.m. police were dispatched to a medical centre on second Ave. W. for a report of an assault in progress. The female victim was located soon after.

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As per testimony heard on Tuesday, the victim was working at one of the health offices and was pushed by the accused into a confined space. He then proceeded to put his hand over her mouth.

“I was kicking him, punching him, trying to scream,” she testified.

In response, the man continued to push the woman and squeeze her arm.

The assault lasted about a minute and while pulling his hand away from the woman’s mouth, the man was overhead saying “okay, okay, okay.”

He then ran down the hallway towards the building’s exit. When asked in court to describe her attacker, the woman said he had a tattoo under his eye. And when further asked if her attacker was sitting in the courtroom, she replied “he’s behind you.”

As a result of the incident the woman said she suffered a number of muscle related injuries.

The next complaint came in about an hour later, and police were called to Goodlife Fitness, which is about two blocks south of the medical building where another woman was sexually assaulted.

Staff provided police with a picture of the suspect and when it was shown to the first victim, she confirmed it was the same man.

Later that day, police responded to Winners and were told a man was spying on women in the change room area and fondling himself in one of the aisles.

Among the Crown’s witnesses on Tuesday was a woman working at the store who recalled a woman, running in her direction, and stating there was a man at the back of the store, following young girls around.

Upon taking a closer look, the staff member said she found a man following the teenage girls. The man’s pants appeared to be open and he was masturbating.

“I did not see any physical part of him,” she said.

“I said get out, get out.”

The teenage girls who were now aware was what happening fled in one direction, while the man ran towards the exit.

“He was moving very fast and he was laughing,” the woman said. “He didn’t look all there.”

Janvier was located by police shortly after and arrested.

Defence

Prior to the trial’s commencement, Janvier fired his last four lawyers. To help ensure a fair trial process, he has instead been granted access to an amicus curia (Latin for “friend of the court) which is an individual who can offer information and even provide advice to an accused.

Due to the nature of the charges, lawyer Evan Strelioff was also asked to cross-examine the witnesses.

Much of his questions centered around identification. Both witnesses confirmed there was no opportunity to identify the accused in a police line up and were not contacted for a follow up statement.

There were also discrepencies in their original statements related to the clothes the suspect was wearing.

Another point of contention was the fact the original USB drive, containing the video from Goodlife Fitness, could not be located. The video had been copied onto a DVD but was not checked afterwards to ensure the entirety had not been altered.

“This is really sloppy,” Justice R.W. Elson commented on the police service’s handling of the investigation.

At various times during the trial, Janvier was provided the opportunity to speak, and while displaying clear confusion of how a trial works, insisted he had done nothing wrong and demanded to know who the people were on the stand and why they were talking about him.

“I don’t wanna to spend my life in prison,” he said.

In response Justice Elson assured Janvier he would get a fair trial and encouraged him to be patient.

In response to one of the victims, Janvier claimed she was helping people at Sask Pen who want to end his life. However when asked by Strelioff if she had ever been threatened or offered money, the woman replied no.

A psychiatric assessment in 2024 requested by one of Janvier’s former lawyers and concluded he was fit to stand trial. However, as Justice Elson pointed out, the court can order another assessment.

While noting he had concerns, Justice Elson also acknowledged another assessment would mean more delays and infringe on Janvier’s constitutional right to have a trial within a fair and reasonable time.

“I am conflicted,” he said.

The trial will resume on Wednesday morning.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell