Joshua Boyle, the Canadian man who was held captive in Afghanistan for five years with his wife, has been charged with several criminal offences in Ottawa, including sexual assault, unlawful confinement and uttering threats, CBC News has confirmed.
Boyle, his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, and their three children were rescued in October, five years after the couple were abducted while on a backpacking trip in Afghanistan. The children were born in captivity.
Court records show Boyle is facing 15 charges and that he made a court appearance at the Ottawa courthouse on New Year’s Day. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again Wednesday morning.
It is alleged the offences happened in Ottawa between Oct. 14 and Dec. 30.
‘Never been in trouble before’
Boyle’s lawyer, Eric Granger, wrote in an email to CBC News that he is limited in what he can say about the case as it’s now before the court.
“Mr. Boyle is presumed innocent. He’s never been in trouble before. No evidence has been provided yet, which is typical at this early stage,” Granger wrote.
“We look forward to receiving the evidence and defending him against these charges.”
Boyle previously told CBC News that members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network killed their infant daughter and raped his wife during the years they were held captive.
Joshua Boyle and his family met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Dec. 19. (@boylesvsworld/Twitter)
Boyle has said his family was shuffled among at least three prisons while they were held captive. One was remarkably barbaric, he said, while another one was particularly violent. He and his wife were frequently separated and beaten.
Upon his return to Canada he settled into his parents’ home in Smiths Falls, Ont.
