Prairie torture suspect's trial date set

More than three weeks have been set aside in the fall for the trial of Dustin Paxton, a Calgary man accused of mutilating, beating and starving his former roommate.

Paxton, who is 30, facesseveral charges which include aggravated assault, forcible confinement, sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

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.

His trial is to begin Sept. 27.

Paxton faces a separate trial starting June 27 for an alleged attack on a Calgary girl under the age of 18 in May 2009.

A third trial in December involves separate alleged attacks against four individuals, including the roommate, whose name is under a publication ban.