Edmonton police constable denies sexually assaulting fellow officer, during trial
CBC
WARNING: This story contains descriptions of alleged sexual violence.
An Edmonton police officer on trial for sexual assault took the stand in his own defence Thursday and denied he groped a colleague in 2021.
Testimony during the Tuesday sexual assault trial in provincial court was marked by several tense exchanges.
Edmonton Police Service Const. Samuel Sanson faces one count of sexual assault for allegedly groping another officer in the gym at downtown headquarters on Jan. 20, 2021.
The complainant, whose identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban, was the only witness the Crown prosecutor called.
She alleged that she was sitting on a weight bench when Sanson approached from behind, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her backwards while groping her breast and moaning in her ear.
She told court he said "thanks for the boob grab" and dropped her when another person entered the weight room.
She said before the alleged assault, Sanson had approached her in the cardio room while she was on the treadmill and got on the treadmill next to her and started shaking his own treadmill and shaking his head.
"The best part of right now is I can do or say whatever I want because I'm f--king crazy," she recalled him saying.
She testified that the experience left her feeling "mortified, horrified and grossed out."
The two had known each other for years, having met when the complainant was a young recruit and Sanson offered her advice and guidance.
During cross-examination of the complainant by defence lawyer Robert Hladan, Crown prosecutor Vicki Faulkner objected several times, raising concerns about the way Hladan was speaking to the complainant.
At one point, Hladan remarked "oh, come on" in response to one of the complainant's answers to a question.
Later, the complainant said she didn't say anything to Sanson during the alleged assault because she was surprised.
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