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The trial of suspected serial sex offender Richard Mantha won’t resume until late this fall, court heard Thursday.

And when the hearing does continue, it will be conducted in English only, it was confirmed in court.

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Justice Judith Shrier asked Mantha if he was fine that his trial, which began in French after he elected to be tried in his mother tongue, will continue in Canada’s other official language.

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And because Shrier questioned Mantha in English and he answered in French, Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin asked the Calgary Court of Justice judge to confirm in French that he was abandoning that election.

The judge asked Mantha in French if he was agreeing to have the balance of his trial “only in English.”

“Oui,” the Quebec native replied.

Defence counsel Marc Crerar, who was initially appointed by Legal Aid for the sole purpose of cross-examining complainants when Mantha fired his previous lawyers and was unrepresented, told court he is now fully retained and can conduct the remainder of the trial.

But Crerar, who is bilingual, previously told court he isn’t fluent enough in French to conduct a trial in that language.

As a result, Mantha’s case will resume in November in English and a French translator will be present in case he needs any assistance with some words, or phrases, Shrier ordered.

Crerar said between reviewing disclosure and transcripts from the first portion of the trial and his schedule he wasn’t available to continue the trial until then.

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Mathurin agreed a lengthy delay was justified.

“It’s many thousands of pages of disclosure,” she said.

Mantha faces 20 charges involving allegations he sexually assaulted seven women, allegedly drugging six of them. He also faces a charge of kidnapping one of the women.

His trial was derailed at the end of January when he fired the two lawyers who had been appointed to represent him, saying he was no longer confident in their services.

Court had already heard from four women, who testified in English with Mantha’s agreement and without simultaneous translation, while he had a French translator sit beside him.

Along with further evidence Mathurin said the trial, when it continues for nine days beginning Nov. 18, will also involve an application by her to maintain the alleged offences are similar enough to help prove other allegations.

There will also have to be a hearing to determine if the statement of one of the alleged victims, who has since died, can be presented as evidence.

Mantha, 60, remains in custody pending an outcome to the case.

KMartin@postmedia.com

X: @KMartinCourts

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