DiManno seeks diversion

By Jim Eadie

Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno has again had her assault charge adjourned Nov. 15  in the Bancroft Ontario Court of Justice, at the request of her legal counsel Gary Clewley.

DiManno was charged with assault by Bancroft OPP following the investigation of an alleged incident in the Coe Hill area on July 12 of this year.

Neither DiManno nor her lawyer appeared in court, but were represented by Bancroft criminal lawyer William D. Watson who spoke on their behalf.

Honourable Judge Stephen Hunter was told that the DiManno case had been “flagged for potential diversion.” This means that the accused is encouraged to join some sort of rehabilitation process intended to help remedy the behaviour leading to arrest in exchange for avoiding a criminal conviction and record. Only certain cases meet the threshold where the Crown prosecutor can agree to flag a case for that path to a resolution.
Following written instructions from Clewley, Watson told the court that DiManno was participating in “some sort of an anger management program. She is participating in counselling, and we are waiting for a report from her counsellor.”

Hunter agreed to a further adjournment of the case until Dec. 13.