Caleb Heaton, alleged Strathcona sex attacker, yells at court in bail hearing
Accused faces 7 charges after Vancouver woman was tied up and sexually assaulted
Caleb Heaton, the man accused in a violent sex assault in the Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver, had an outburst in court at his bail hearing Wednesday morning. The hearing was later postponed until Friday.
Heaton, wearing a peach shirt, leaned against the wall of the prisoner's box and yelled at the court through a gap in the glass.
What Heaton yelled cannot be reported, because of a publication ban on evidence disclosed at the hearing.
Responding to Heaton's outburst, the judge advised him to be quiet and avoid addressing the court directly.
Heaton, 25, faces seven charges, including aggravated sexual assault, breaking and entering, robbery and unlawful confinement.
He has at least 40 criminal convictions in Ontario, including aggravated assault, breaking and entering and possession of a weapon.
Heaton has been in custody since his arrest six weeks ago.
Violent sex assault
The assault in question took place on March 26, when a man armed with a weapon barged into a woman's home just after noon, tied her up, choked her and sexually assaulted her with a rock and a knife, according to court documents.
Her attacker — whom she didn't know — was stopped by another man who heard her screams and rushed into the house to help. Several other people came to her aid, and the suspect was held until police arrived.
The woman was taken to hospital with what police called "significant" but non-life-threatening injuries, and has since been released.
With files from Farrah Merali