Prairie torture suspect to be tried on 11 charges

Dustin Paxton will be tried on 11 criminal charges related to assaults on four people, a judge in Calgary ruled on Wednesday.

Paxton, wearing a white dress shirt, appeared nervous, rocking back and forth in the prisoner's box as his preliminary hearing wrapped up on Wednesday morning. 

He will stand trial on charges including forcible confinement, sexual assault, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon. 

Paxton was arrested in August 2010 in connection with a brutal, long-running series of alleged attacks on a man who cannot be named because of a publication ban.

The assaults— which the victim's family said amounted to torture — are alleged to have occurred from December 2008 to April 2010 in Calgary and Regina, until the man was dropped off at a Regina hospital.

At that point, the victim weighed just 87 pounds, had numerous broken bones and part of his lips and tongue cut off.

More assault allegations against Paxton came to light after a Canada-wide search led to his arrest in Edmonton last summer.

In September 2010 he was charged with the forcible confinement and aggravated assault of a Calgary girl, and an assault with a weapon against another man, both relating to events in May 2009.

In November 2010 officials also confirmed Paxton would likely face charges involving a fourth individual.

Provincial court Judge Brian Stevenson set Paxton's next appearance for April 1 at the Court of Queen's Bench, at which time a trial date will be decided.

Paxton has elected to be tried by a judge and jury.