By Taylor MacPherson

Sex assault trial begins at Queen’s Bench

Sep 27, 2017 | 5:00 PM

A two-day trial began this morning for a young man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl who he was babysitting.

The accused, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference. The crimes are alleged to have taken place near Prince Albert between October, 2014 and November, 2015.

The 16-year-old complainant, whose identity is also protected by a publication ban, took the stand this morning as the only Crown witness with her father at her side and a screen separating her from the accused. She testified when she was 14 year old the accused was a regular babysitter for her along with her younger siblings. The accused, who was nearly a decade older, molested her during a game of hide-and-seek and later pressured her into sex, she said.

The man repeated the behaviour on two more occasions, she testified, though she kept the incidents secret until her family discovered what had happened and insisted she go to the police.

“[The accused] just acted as if nothing had happened,” she said on the stand. “I just stayed quiet about it.”

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During cross-examination defence lawyer Lori Johnstone-Clarke pointed out several inconsistencies between the complainant’s testimony today, her statements to police and her testimony at the case’s preliminary hearing. The girl struggled with the timeline of events and specific details, and gave different answers when asked who was living in her family home at the time.

“What part of it is right?” Johnstone-Clarke asked. “Or is all of it wrong?”

The complainant said she was “overcome with anxiety” during the preliminary hearing and insisted her testimony today was accurate.

Johnstone-Clarke said the accused may take the stand himself tomorrow morning as a defence witness, but said she will consider the prospect tonight before making a final decision in the morning.

The trial is expected to conclude tomorrow afternoon.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews

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