James Duncan Keats fired as sexual assault case continues

A Nova Scotia paramedic accused of sexually assaulting a 71-year-old patient has lost his job.

James Duncan Keats is on trial in Windsor forallegedly assaulting the woman twice: once in her home and another time during an ambulance ride to hospital.

Keats was suspended from his job when the charges were first laid, but a spokeswoman for Emergency Health Services says they have since fired him after details revealed in court show he violated their ethical code of conduct.

While in custody, Keats gave two statements. In the first interview, he denied inappropriate sexual conduct. In the second interview later that same day, Keats admitted to inappropriate sexual conduct with a 71-year-old woman. The videotaped confession has been ruledinadmissible by the judge.

"The court proceedings produced new details of his conduct that violate our EHS Ethical Code of Conduct," Stacey Brownwrote in an email.

"We have ended his employment with our organization."

Judge Claudine MacDonaldruled that Keats's detention was a breach of his charter rights, after he was detained for 15 hours before policequestioned him.

MacDonald ruled that Keats's statements were involuntary and therefore inadmissible.

Keats will be back in court in March.