The accused was tried on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference arising from allegations that he sexually touched a child in his care over a prolonged period in a shared family home.
The court applied the governing principles on the presumption of innocence, reasonable doubt, assessment of child witnesses, and motive to fabricate.
The child complainant's evidence was accepted as truthful and reliable, and was materially confirmed by the mother's eyewitness evidence of a highly incriminating incident immediately preceding disclosure.
The accused's denial was rejected, including because his account of the critical exchange with the mother shifted in cross-examination and appeared tailored to provide an innocent explanation.
Convictions were entered on both charges.
