Charges stayed against London, Ont. jail workers because of trial delays

Two employees from a London, Ont. jail no longer face charges in connection to the death of an inmate after a judge, on Monday, decided the court process has taken too long.

The decision to stay the charges against the two ElginMiddlesexDetention Centre workers marks the first time new Supreme Court time limits for bringing a case to trial have been cited in the London area.

• London detention centre inmate dead, another in hospital

Stephen Jurkus, 55, and Leslie Lonsbary, 50, were each charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life to inmate Adam Kargus. The 29-year-old Sarnia resident was found beaten to death in a shower stall at the jail Oct. 31, 2013.

Lawyers for Jurkus and Lonsbaryasked the Superior Court judge earlier this month to dismiss the charges because too much time has passed since they were charged.

They argued the charges had lingered for nearly three years without a resolution.On Monday, Justice Alissa Mitchell ruled in favour of the lawyers' arguments and stayed the charges.

Lonsbary's lawyer, Ron Ellis,saidhis client has mixed feelings about the ruling he's pleased that there's no prospect for conviction, but does have some misgivings.

"He's disappointed he doesn't get a chance to put his evidence before the court and clear his good name," Ellis said.

Ellis said the trial would have shed some light on the many problems at the London jail because he was prepared to call six high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Corrections to testify.

But, he added, a public inquiry if one was called could achieve the same result.