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The Huron Expositor, 1994-12-21, Page 11Local MaiMaii. convicted of sexual abuse Judge calls it difficult decision A McKillop, Twp. resident was ,found guilty last Tuesday on three counts of sexually abusing his teenap daughter. "This is the roost difficult type of ;,case for the courts to decide: a jt straightforward allegation and a tstrhightforward denial," Mr. Justice 1J.F. McGarry, of London, said yesterday. McGarry dismissed three of the ,charges and found the man guilty on the remaining three, saying the girl's story aid demeanour were "credible." The man will be back in court at 10 a.rn. Dec. 28 to be sentenced. By taw, he cannot be identified, in order to protect the identity of the daughter. The man pleaded not guilty Mon- day to six charges. The abuse allegedly occurred between Septem- ber 1992 and December 1993. She was 14 years old at the time. The girl said on one occasion, her father called her into the upstairs bedroom she shared with a sister. When she walked in, he was lying in her bed, fully dressed. She said ,he had been drinking, pulled her : clothing down and began fondling ;her, and told her to do the same to 'him. A few minutes later, she said, she went downstairs, and shortly after that, one of her sisters told her that her dad was calling from upstairs. The girl testified she went back upstairs where the same events ; occurred. She also said her father l'asked her if she had told anyone about what had happened after the l first time. She also told the court that he always seemed to be just outside the door when she was finishing a shower, and would say he had to come in to use the toilet. When he did, he would tell her to take off her clothing, and he would then fondle her. The girl also said her father would pinch and poke her yeasts when she walked by or when she was talking to him, often leaving small bruises. The father vehemently denied all the allegations; saying, "I wouldn't even dream of something like that." The girl said there had never been any occasions before these incidents in which her father used inappropri- ate speech or behaviour. She said he ste mo er was working shifts �, when bags ire~: ,1 c I During the same said 7Lo41( 6 ., `fhb "This is the most difficult type of case for the courts to decide...a straightforward allegation and a straightforward denial..." The girl's father said there were ,likely times when I banged on the (bathroom) door and told someone to get the heck out," he said. But if he had to use the bathroom that badly, he added, he would go out- side, since the family lives in the county and his neighbours were not close enough that they would be offended. The father also said the family has been in ongoing counselling since he remarried, including courses in stepparenting offered by the Huron -Perth Centre for Youth. "I wanted one happy family, I didn't want this," said the father. Huron County Crown Attorney Bob Morris asked the man if he wasn't worried about the fact that the son who was convicted of sex- ual assault is back in the house, and is often alone with the younger children. " I object," said Hill. "What's the result of this line of questioning?" "Well, that's what we'll find out" replied McGarry. "It relates to his credibility and his lifestyle," Morris replied. "We're talking about specifics," retorted Hill. "Not my client's role as a parent." "I can't disabuse myself of that," McGarry agreed. "Why would she make this up?" Morris asked the father. Hill objected again, saying, "There's no onus on the accused to explain away the complaints. However, the father said he believed his daughter's complaints to the CAS about her stepmother were an attempt to force them into letting her live with her mother. He said her accusations against himself and her brother were all part of the The sistere pr who was supposed to have called the girl to back upstairs denied any such incident ever hap- pened. She said their father would never go into their beds, and that, if he wanted any of them to come to where he was, he would call them himself, not send someone to get them. She testified he never made inappropriate comments or actions towards any of the children. "He wouldn't do that, not to us, not to anyone else," the witness testified, her voice trembling. She began to cry when Morris cross- examined her about her relationship with her sister. "We're not close now," she said. "1 don't want to see her because of what she did to my dad and my brother." "How about if you turn that around: what they did to her'?" Morris replied. "It's not true. She's a liar," the witness said, crying. She also said that while she loved her father, she wouldn't lie to help him. A family friend, called to testify for the defence, said the accused "is a good father, a good husband and a good friend. I've known him all my life, and he's only been con- cerned about his kids. He's not capable of doing what he's accused of doing." "But you can't tell us what he might do behind closed doors, can you?" Morris asked. "I'd like to think I have a good relationship with him, and I believe I could detect these things," the man said firmly. "Do you have any special training for this sort of thing?" asked Mor- ris. "No, sir," the man replied. COUNSELLING • Marriage • Family • Teenagers • Learning Disabilities BRIAN O'REILLY, D.S.W. 1130 Huron St. /1 82G_9249 CUNTON •tv * WE LOVE * OUT•OE.TOWNERS... SIT WILL BE WORTH YOUR* E DRIVE TO LONDON FOR E SIE � I Iri * IF YOU GO TO $ * BOB MARTIN'S * WHERE VALUES & * PRICES BREAK PAR * ,/ Over 100 different Golf Sets * * to suit everyone & every budget! * * v' Over 700 pairs of SHOES & BAGS * In Men's, Ladies', Seniors' & Juniors' SIE . V Over 17,000 total items on display * all at LOWEST SALE PRICES gVER! Ak- • V Putters, Carts, Umbrellas • plus Hundreds of Golf Accessories! ✓ Pius... Anything Happily Exchanged! ® °AA ..• e•o ,0•• she complained to the Children's Aid Society that her stepmother threatened to kill her. The CAS investigated her com- plaint, "but the long and short of it was, they did nothing about it," defence lawyer Perry Hill, of Stratford, pointed out. Under Hill's questioning, the girl also admitted she did not really get along with her stepmother, and wanted to go live with her mother. • "You were disappointed and frustrated; you wanted to go live with your mother and the CAS wasn't helping," he said. The girl FOR SPECIAL PLACES & SPECIAL PEOPLE 1 did not include her allegations ,rnu ` �i!". / „b h against her father in her complaint t ,�l (iirnr.!rs •� ; V ti _co A('('F.!'ito ,/ . ;—�-. I, to the CAS, although at least one of IAo• - ; the alleged incidents happened �' 1 MILE SOUTH OF IIL.YTIt • OPEN 7 DAYS • 519-523-4595 before she approached them. r -,111'A,,, rr;nti ,a. 1, r,l The girl hadtmade similar ® o,• .. ® o•o ionagainst a brother, who has l since been convicted of sexual 4111§574#110W° *1111° ' assault. LOTS OF FREE PARKING AT THE DOOR! OPEN LATE! MON. TO FRI. 9AM'TIL 9PM SAT. 9AM • 6PM JUi ; roN Tat SPM * YOU CAN'T BUY SHEEPSKIN - an ae. txCtrh_ar_o_isrtdminasar_ YTrr imP.ne e^ - onaAl00 gift • � OUTASATNANYDWtBNQ TSTELEEARCT! ION! THE HURON Perfect Christmas Gift YEAR ROUND Muskoka Getaway FOR WOMEN TOTAL. RELAXATION • 2-3 DAY PACKAGES Gift Certificates Call MUSKOKA HOUSE s19) 368-5224 EXPOSITOR. Dec.mbsr 21. 10114-11 To AU Residents of the Township of Tuckersmith The Township Municipal Office will be closed from December 24, 1994 and will open again on January 2, 1995. Merry Chrlstmas and 8 - Happy New Year! Reeve and Council of the Township of Tuckersmith SEAFORTH VETERINARY CLINIC NOTICE TO CLIENTS HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS OPEN • Friday, December 23 -- 8:00 0,m,-6:00 p.m. Saturday. December 24 — 8:00 a.m.-12 noon CLOSED Sunday, December 25 Monday, December 26 OPEN Saturday, December 31— 8:00 a.m.-12 noon CLOSED Sunday, January 1 OPEN Monday, January 2 — 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. In Casy of Emergency 1-800-265-90321.D. 6453 , -#0 SIE • GOLF & FASHIONS:* * 609 WILLIAM ST. @CENTRAL AVE. ) SIE LONDON (519) 432-7104 SIE We love out•of•towners... SIE * it will be worth your O R I V F! TOWNSHIP OF HULLETT will be closed FRIDAY, DEC. 23, 1994 MONDAY DEC. 26, 1994 TUESDAY DEC. 27, 1994 and MONDAY JAN. 2, 1995 Due to Statutory Holidays and Social Contract B.M. SI!ADDICK CLERK -TREASURER GOLFHEADOUARTER• 0 •4+ Bob, Betty and staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry and Joyous Christmas season . and a prosperous New Year! Reginninit ALL IIM1.Mf K Prlc ontx-rs Opts SAT., DEC. 24 ' TIL 6:00 P.M. CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY MON., DEC. 26 10:00 A.M. to 5 P.M. BOB AND BETTY'S VARIETY A GIFTS Radrelhaek SEAFORTH 527-1680 "YOUR LOTTERY TICKET CENTRE" DEALER A.S.C. A . ,.n, s ...cnr, 0,1, iIF �R rr nr m' ytr c m lK Mfr Ire,r11( h\. e. or e wee •n FREE PHOTO WITH SANTA Friday evenings, Saturday & Sunday Second print 99C with same day store receipts of 525 or more. FREE GIFT WRAPPING on Friday Saturday - & Sunday with sams_ day storeircceipr FREE CHRISTMAS STOCKING One -of -a -kind stocking hang-ups With same day mall receipts of $150 or more. remy-0/7/. yorze St Wea1 M I6TPbACtd q C.H. Mier at Ontario Street STRATFORD /IOW Haidaw Front Row'L-R: Arnold and Jean Taylor. Back Row L -R: Pam Mills, Barry Cleave, Mike Ball, Brenda Saunders. Amy Lcppington, June Mowatt, Andrea Johnston, Betty Walker, Rob Layton & Becky Good. Wishing you a warm, wonderful Christmas filled with lots of love. To all, thanks for your business and support. Arnold Jean and Staff at 212 Victoria Street TAYLOR'S MARKET WHOLESALE & RITAIL • Dlft Baskets • Bulk Candy & Nuts •,,• fiesh Fruit!_In-Store Bake Shop • Farm Fresh Vegetables OPEN 7 DAYS CLINTON 482-3413