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Infamous Graham James has trial delayed again

2011 Heritage Classic - Alumni Game

CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 19: Theo Fleury #14 of the Calgary Flames Alumni waits for a shot in front of Eric Fichaud #41 of the Montreal Canadiens Alumni during the Alumni game held as part of the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic festivities at McMahon Stadium on February 19, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dylan Lynch/Getty Images)

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Notorious former Western Hockey League coach Graham James managed to have his latest sexual assault trial pushed back until September 15. Directly from the Winnipeg Sun:

“James did not appear in court Thursday, as junior lawyers representing the Crown and defence simply got together to set further dates.

Court heard James and his lawyer need more time to discuss his case.”


Note, this case has nothing to do with the thirty sexual assault counts that James was convicted of in 1997. No, these are nine brand new counts that have been brought before authorities for alleged acts committed against three different junior hockey league players between 1979 and 1994. Among the alleged victims are former NHL star Theo Fleury—in his 2009 autobiography “Playing With Fire,” Fleury claimed that he had been abused by James when he was with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the mid-to-late 1980s.

After he was sentenced to a three and a half year sentence for sexually abusing players, he was inexplicably pardoned by the Canadian government. Obviously, Fleury had a comment when the 2007 pardon made news in 2010.

“I’m shocked and mystified. Imagine somebody who commits that kind of crime being pardoned. Obviously nobody was proud of the decision or it wouldn’t have been a secret. I thought we had an open justice system. It’s just more proof our society has a lot to learn about protecting the victims.”

Just as incredible as the pardon, James was quickly able find another job coaching hockey with a team in Spain. Not only did he coach, but he was also an assistant coach on the country’s World C Hockey Championship team in 2001. He eventually disappeared to Mexico before he was eventually forced to face the nine new charges.

We’ll keep you updated as this sad story continues to play out over the next few months.