The accused was tried on historic charges of sexual touching and sexual assault arising from allegations that he repeatedly assaulted the complainant when she was 11 years old.
The court applied the W.(D.) framework, treated the complainant's evidence with caution in light of material inconsistencies, dishonesty-related criminal record, and Facebook messages threatening police involvement unless money was paid, and found the evidence of alleged admissions to be vague and obtained in coercive circumstances.
Although the court was convinced some abuse of a sexual nature had occurred in the complainant's childhood and was suspicious of the accused's involvement, the Crown did not prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt.
The accused was acquitted.
