2nd investigation into Sudbury byelection scandal complicates Gerry Lougheed criminal case

Another investigation into the Sudbury byelection scandal is complicating the criminal case against GerryLougheed, meaning he might not go to trial this summer as expected.

Federal prosecutor Vern Brewer told a Sudbury court Thursday morning that a "parallel investigation" into possible Elections Act charges against Lougheed and the Liberal party"will have a direct impact" on the criminal proceedings.

Brewer said that investigation "will be concluded shortly" but he said he wasn't certain if the trial dates set aside for July will be needed.

TheCrown is"now undertaking something that should have been done long before."- Michael Lacy, defence lawyer

He apologized to the court for the inconvenience andcalled himself a "messenger" saying"the decision is not one that I'm making."

Lougheed'sdefence lawyer Michael Lacy criticized the Crown for "now undertaking something that should have been done long before."

He said if the Crown was considering Elections Act charges which are provincial offences and less serious that criminal charges those should have been dealt with before the criminal charges were laid.

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The allegations thatLougheedoffered a job or appointment to Andrew Olivier to not run in a provincialbyelectionfirst surfaced last December. He wasn't formally charged with unlawfully influencing appointments until September.

Lougheedis officially charged with "counsellingan offence not committed and unlawfully influencing appointments."

"It seems to me this decision should have been made a long time ago," Lacy said outside of court.

Lacy said that the proceedings have caused undue "anxiety" for his client.

"Anyone who is subjected to a criminal allegation, whether you're innocent or not, whether you're confident the charge can be made out or not, it creates a level of anxiety," he told reporters.

"Mr. Lougheed is no exception to that. It is alleged he is a criminal."

The case returns to court on May10 for a confirmation hearing, where it will be determined whether or not it proceeds to trial.

That is also whenLougheed isexpected to be in the courtroom for the first time since being charged late last year.