WARNING: Some may find the contents of this story disturbing.
UPDATE: Mar. 22, 2017 – The B.C. Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial.
PENTICTON, B.C. — Closing arguments begin Wednesday in a B.C. Supreme court room in Penticton, involving a South Okanagan man accused of sexually assaulting a boy.
The man has pleaded not guilty to sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault.
The man’s defense lawyer tried to discredit the boy, saying there are too many inconsistencies with his testimony.
Defense also points out that the child fabricated how the pair watched porn together.
“(The victim) likes to tell stories, embellish stories, and make stories up because he likes the attention; he likes the shock value,” says defense lawyer Michael Welsh.
Crown counsel is quick to say that the events started in 2011 and took place over a year.
Therefore it is not surprising that child, who was nine years old when the alleged assault began, would not remember how frequent the incidents happened.
The victim says he’s had between 20 and 30 sleepovers at the man’s home during the length of their relationship.
Some of the allegations are that the accused dared the boy to sleep naked, they showered together, the man encouraged the boy to sexually touch him and eventually, the abuse escalated to anal intercourse.
Closing arguments will resume at a later date.
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