Fort St. John veterinarian sentencing trial continues

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Veterinarian Justin Sewell returned to Fort St. John Provincial Court on Wednesday, August 7th, to continue his sexual assault sentencing hearing. 

During the resumed trial, Sewell’s defence requested that a video they provided showing the activities of the veterinary hospital he operates be played to show how the city’s pet services may be affected without him. 

The judge decided to view the video privately before showing it in court to avoid showing the court staff unsettling images.

After reviewing the video, the judge was critical of it. He said it shows lots of dogs and cats as well as visuals of Sewell’s four sons and is mostly a ‘promotional video.’

Sewell was last in court back on July 17th, 2024. 

Sewell pled guilty to charges of sexual assault, unlawfully recording intimate images, and voyeurism in November of 2022 after a sexual assault investigation that started in 2019.

According to the investigation, the incidents happened in 2007 in Charlie Lake.

Court documents say Sewell sexually assaulted the victim before secretly observing and recording sexual activity or nudity in a private area.

Sewell will appear in court again when the hearings re-convene on Thursday, August 8th. 

In order to prevent the victim and witnesses from being identified, details from the hearing are under a publication ban.