Kelowna sex assault re-trial closes, decision still to come

WARNING: This article contains details about a criminal sexual assault trial and may be disturbing to some readers. If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual violence, contact the Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society at (250) 763-4613 or the RCMP. The defence lawyer for a Kelowna man who faces sexual assault charges from an incident in 2021 argued the Crown has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Brandon Hildebrand Acosta appeared on Nov. 10 before Justice Richard Hewson in the Supreme Court in Kelowna for the ninth and final day of the retrial. The first trial held in 2024 was declared a mis-trial through no fault of the accused. Defence lawyer Andrew McKay told Justice Hewson that even if he rejects part of the accused’s testimony, he should still find Hildebrand Acosta not guilty, as the Crown had not proven that the complainant had not consented.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.