The defendant was tried on two counts: sexual assault and sexual interference with a person under the age of 16 years, alleged to have occurred on May 23, 2016.
The defendant, the step-grandfather of the complainant, was accused of inappropriately touching the complainant on her breast and thigh while she sat on a couch in his living room.
The Crown presented evidence through a video-recorded statement by the complainant and testimony from the complainant and her mother.
The defendant testified that he did not commit the alleged acts and provided an alternative account of events.
The court found that while the complainant appeared truthful, her account left too much room for ambiguity and misunderstanding, and that the Crown had not met its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges were dismissed.
