Quebec judge withdraws from case after comments about weight of sexual assault victim

A Quebec court judge has withdrawn from a case after comingunder fire for comments about the nature of consent and the weight of a victim ofsexual assault.

Jean-Paul Braun officially removed himself in a document signed Oct. 26. He did not provide a reason for the decision.

Judge Lori Weitzmanwill take over the case and will hear sentencing arguments Dec. 14.

Braun faced criticism including fromthe province's justice minister for comments made while overseeing thetrial of a taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old passenger.

In May, Braun found taxi driver CarloFigaro guilty of sexually assaulting the teenin 2015.

• Judge's remarks about teen sex assault victim 'worrisome,' Crown says

During the trial,Braun commented on the victim's appearance, saying she was "a bit overweight, but she has a pretty face."

Audio recordings of the court proceedings showed thatBraunalso wentback and forth with Crown prosecutorAmlieRivard, suggesting there are degrees of consent and questioningwhichactions required Figaro to get the victim's consent.

The judge said it is not the same to consent to kiss someone and to "mettre la main au panier," a crudeway of referring to sexual groping, in French.

Rivardreplied that she hadn't come across thatdistinction in the jurisprudence.

Braun also highlighted the girl's strictreligious upbringingand suggestedshe enjoyed getting the attention from a man who "looks good" and that she had even flirted with him.

Rivard said the girl was simply being politeand that even if she had beenflirting, itdidn'tmean that constituted consent.