M. O’Bonsawin

Sentencing for two domestic sexual assaults and one assault committed against a vulnerable spouse in the context of a long relationship marked by coercion, physical violence, and entitlement.

The court emphasized denunciation, deterrence, proportionality, and the statutory aggravating factor for abuse of a spouse, while also considering the offender's lack of record, community support, difficult personal history, and employment background.

The court treated the offender's attempt to persuade the complainant to withdraw her allegations as an aggravating circumstance forming part of the circumstances of the offences.

A global sentence of three years' imprisonment was imposed, together with DNA, lifetime weapons prohibition, and lifetime sex offender registration orders.

Historical sexual offence prosecution arising from allegations that the accused repeatedly sexually abused his younger sister over many years in the family home, beginning in early childhood and continuing into her teens.

The court held that an adult complainant testifying about childhood abuse must have inconsistencies on peripheral matters assessed in light of her age at the time of the events, and that delayed disclosure cannot ground an adverse credibility inference.

The complainant's evidence was accepted as credible and reliable, materially corroborated by forensic DNA evidence on the complainant's dolls.

The parents' evidence was rejected as biased, tailored, and unreliable.

The accused was found guilty on all counts of sexual assault, incest, sexual assault with a weapon, and mischief.