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ANTIGONISH, N.S. — Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court has dismissed a bid to continue an appeal of a sexual assault conviction by a taxi driver who has since died.

William Roger MacLellan was convicted last year after a university student accused him of molesting her in his vehicle.

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The young woman alleged MacLellan put his hands down her pants after she got into his taxi on the early morning of Oct. 19, 2014.

He was convicted of one count of sexual assault but had filed an appeal before his death last April.

His lawyer applied to have MacLellan’s sister continue the appeal, arguing the case raised identification issues because MacLellan was of African descent.

He was alternately described by witnesses as Latin, Filipino or Mexican. A police officer who knew MacLellan identified his slightly accented voice in the background of a recorded 911 call made by the victim just after the assault.

The court dismissed the application to continue the appeal, saying the trial judge recognized and properly dealt with those issues.