The accused was charged with multiple counts of sexual interference, sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, unlawful confinement, and incest arising from allegations that he repeatedly sexually abused his daughter over several years.
The defence challenged the credibility and reliability of the complainant’s evidence, emphasizing inconsistencies and incremental disclosure during police interviews and testimony.
The court accepted the complainant’s explanations for delayed and selective disclosure, noting the dynamics of trauma, familial relationships, and the difficulty of reporting incest.
After carefully scrutinizing credibility and reliability, the court found the complainant’s testimony compelling and consistent with lived experience.
The Crown proved the essential elements of the offences beyond a reasonable doubt and the accused was convicted on ten counts.