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Former Lower Mainland city councillor in court for sentening

Dave Murray was convicted of sexual assault in fall.
11116881_web1_DaveMurray

Former Pitt Meadows councillor Dave Murray is in Port Coquitlam provincial court for sentencing today.

Murray was convicted of sexual assault in October. The decision was made by Judge Deirdre Pothecary.

Sentencing was adjourned to await the completion of a pre-sentence report.

Crown has asked for nine to 12 months jail time. Defence has asked for a six-month conditional sentence.

Murray was first charged on Nov. 16, 2016 with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference with a person under the age of 14 in relation to incident back in 1992.

He pleaded not guilty and elected a trial by provincial judge.

Murray remained on council, to which he was first elected in 2011, and attended regular meetings, as well as community events.

A former employee of Murray testified at the start of his trial that he sexually assaulted her at their workplace in 1992.

Her identity is protected by a publication ban.

Murray, secretary-treasurer of the CUPE Fraser Valley District Labour Council, was originally charged with sexual assault and sexual interference of a person under the age of 14.

But Crown counsel asked for the second charge to be stayed, citing an inability to confirm whether the complainant was 13 or 14 at the time of the alleged assault.

Judge Pothecary has said she will give a decision today.

• More on sentencing to follow.