In this case, the judge presided over the trial of a police offi cer alleged to have sexually assaulted his stepdaughter

20080006 - In this case, the judge presided over the trial of a police offi cer alleged to have sexually assaulted his stepdaughter. At the trial, it appeared that there were several inconsistencies in the evidence of the stepdaughter and that her recollections were at times imprecise. The stepdaughter’s mother also testifi ed, but the judge raised questions regarding her credibility. Because of the accumulated weaknesses in the Crown’s evidence, the judge indicated that he had a reasonable doubt regarding the charged counts of sexual assault. The complainant alleged that certain comments made by the judge in delivering his Reasons for Judgment in a case of alleged sexual assault were demeaning and vicious and re-victimized the family in question. The complainant alleged that the judge said the stepdaughter did not “act like a victim” or like a sexually assaulted child.