Trial of priest accused of assault at Manitoba residential school closes
CBC
WARNING: This story contains distressing details.
The question of how accurate memories are arose when a judge in Winnipeg heard closing arguments in the trial of a retired priest accused of assaulting a First Nations woman when she attended a former residential school more than 50 years ago.
Manitoba Court of King's Bench Justice Candace Grammond is expected to deliver the verdict on March 30.
The two-day judge-alone trial wrapped up Wednesday for Arthur Masse, 93, who is charged with one count of indecent assault against Victoria McIntosh. The incident allegedly took place when she attended the Fort Alexander Residential School, about 120 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, sometime between 1968 and 1970.
McIntosh and Masse were the only witnesses called to testify.
George Green, Masse's lawyer, argued the burden of proof falls heavily on McIntosh's testimony, "that is hard to discharge on the word of one person."
He added that given the nature of the allegations, passage of time and inconsistencies in McIntosh's testimony, the court cannot deem her a reliable witness.
"Ms. McIntosh's evidence standing on its own falls short on proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.
McIntosh recounted details of the alleged assault during her testimony on Tuesday. She told the court she was in the school bathroom when she heard someone enter. Masse could frequently be seen entering the student bathrooms while he worked at the school, McIntosh told court.
McIntosh said she recognized it was Masse because of his collar.
She testified Masse held her against a wall in the bathroom using his forearm while he used his other hand to "fondle" her above her clothing. Before she was able to get away, Masse kissed her quickly and roughly on her face, she told court.
The First Nations woman said the alleged assault lasted approximately a minute and afterward Masse told her not to tell anyone.
"I was scared and nauseated at the same time. I slipped away from him and I ran out of there," she told court.
McIntosh first reported the assault to police in 2015, two years after a meeting regarding a residential school settlement claim triggered memories for her. She admitted she tried to forget Masse's name but she always knew what happened to her.
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