Doreze Marvin Beals, accused of human trafficking, sets trial

A North Preston man, accused of human trafficking and facing charges of gang sexual assault, kidnapping and other offences, will go to trial in December.

Doreze Marvin Beals, 18, was charged after a 15-year-old girl said she was held in a Nova Scotia basement for two days and sexually assaulted last April.

In Nova Scotia Supreme Court onThursday, JusticeGeraldMoir set eight days asidefor the trial: Dec.14-18 and then Dec. 21-23.

The Crown attorneyoriginally wanted to go to trialin May, but defence lawyer Laura McCarthy was tied up with other cases.

Beals only spoke whenMoir asked if he promises to attend his trial.

"Yes," he said.

"He will be," muttered a woman sittingnext to him.

Bealswas released from custody in December 2014 on strict bail conditions.