Former Saskatoon private school principal has second assault trial postponed

A court room full of potential jurors in the assault trial of a former school principal was unexpectedly sent home.

The second assault trial of a former Saskatoon school principal did not begin as planned Monday due to a last-minute adjournment.

Jury selection in Duff Friesen’s trial was scheduled to start Monday morning, but after a 40-minute delay, potential jurors were dismissed following a defence request for an adjournment.

Friesen faces seven counts of assault with a weapon stemming from allegations that he hit students with a wooden paddle while he was principal at the then-Christian Centre Academy during the 2003–04 school year.

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The school was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, and more recently, Valour Academy.

In May, Friesen stood trial on a separate set of charges involving different complainants. He was found guilty on one count of assault with a weapon and acquitted on three others.

A new date for the second trial has not yet been set.