The lawyer for a young man charged with sexual assault is casting serious doubt on the Crown’s ability to prove its case.

Twenty-year-old Conway Whalen is accused of robbery and assaulting a teenage girl as she walked a trail with her mother on June 15th in St. John’s east end.

But Whalen’s lawyer says he’s asked the Crown to “assess the reasonable prospect of conviction” for sexual assault, given statements made by police in their own file.

He said the Crown should take a “real hard look” at that charge, adding he’s waiting for a response.

Whalen has since been charged with breaching a condition of his release in early October.

He also has a peace bond against him, which is said to be almost resolved.

Whalen is due back in provincial court for a update on all charges on January 28th

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