Closing arguments for a man accused of drugging, kidnapping and sexually assaulting seven women east of Calgary have been delayed again due to illness.

Richard Robert Mantha , who is 61, has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges, including kidnapping, sexual assault with a weapon and administering a noxious substance.

Most of the complainants are women who worked in Calgary’s sex trade, with the alleged crimes taking place at a rural property east of the city.

Court heard Mantha could only appear in court by phone because he was in the COVID-19 isolation unit at the Calgary Remand Centre and may have suffered a second stroke.

The trial, which began in January 2024, has been plagued by delays, including one when Mantha suffered a stroke a few months later.

The case is scheduled to be bac

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