In March 2008, Oriel Varga and Chris Ramsaroop participated in a ‘sit in’ with over fourty other students in Simcoe Hall at the University of Toronto to protest hikes to student fees. A month later, they were charged with five counts of forcible confinement, one count of forcible detainer and one count of mischief.

On Thursday, all charges against Varga and Ramsaroop were stayed.

Seventeen months. Fourteen court appearances. Undetermined charges. No trial.

So when the Crown tried another delaying tactic Wednesday morning, pointing out that they needed more time to prepare their arguments, the judge only adjourned the proceedings until 2 pm.

This case has been dragging on so long that the accused, Oriel Varga and Chris Ramsaroop, can’t even remember the last time they appeared in court. They still haven’t received full disclosure from the Crown about the evidence against them, even though their trial date has been set for September 28 to October 2.