Assault trial for former Roughrider Justin Cox begins

Former Roughriders Justin Cox is already serving a yearlong jail sentence but he could also be facing more time if his next trial doesn’t go his way.

Cox was charged with assault on Oct. 5, 2018. That was the third time he’s faced an assault charge since moving to Regina to play for the Roughriders in 2016.

The 26-year-old was acquitted of his first charge. He pleaded guilty to a second charge from August 2017 and was sent to jail.

In that case, the court heard about a vicious attack on his pregnant girlfriend, which started in the parking lot of the Normanview Mall in Regina and lasted all the way to the parking lot of the old Mosaic Stadium. Throughout the drive, Cox repeatedly punched, hit and elbowed his girlfriend, leaving her bloodied and with a broken nose. She was able to flag down a passerby and escape.

This past December, Cox was sentenced to one year in prison – nine months for the assault, and three for breach of his release terms which he violated by repeatedly contacting the victim and threatening her not to testify against him.

Police said the third charge happened while he was awaiting sentencing on the second. There are currently no specific details on the victim or the nature of that assault other than it took place in Regina’s east end.

Cox was released by the Roughriders after being charged the first time. The CFL also made it clear at that time that no other team would be allowed to sign him to a contract.

Once Cox’s trial has finished up and he’s served his time, it’s expected he’ll be deported to his home state of Mississippi.