A man facing sexual assault charges was confronted with jeers and apparent threats at provincial court in St. John’s this morning.

Fifty-eight-year-old Billy Howse was arrested in April after a young man said he was assaulted in a centre-city home a month earlier.

That was followed two months later by another complaint and allegation of sexual assault on the same day in the same home as the first.

Meanwhile there have been reports that allegations against Howse date back 20 years, though he was never charged.

Howse was recently released on bail and was in court this morning, sitting several rows ahead of his accusers.

His charges were sent for case management where the Crown and defence will hash out issues to avoid delays before a judge.

Howse was followed out of the courtroom by his accusers, who shouted profanities and apparent threats for his safety outside the building.

He’s scheduled to return to court on November 20th.