WATCH: The parents of the man accused of a violent sexual assault on the Paul First Nation near Edmonton have taken the unusual step of speaking out. As Eric Szeto explains, they say they’ve been run off the reserve and have even received death threats.
EDMONTON – The family of a man accused in a brutal sex assault on a young girl say, for their own safety, they’ve had to flee the Paul First Nation.
In an interview with Global News, Ramona and James Strong said they are “scared and frightened” for their little ones.
James Clifford Paul, 21, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, and kidnapping after a six-year-old was found outside in the snow, naked and beaten. She was airlifted to the Stollery Children’s Hospital with “traumatic injuries related to blunt trauma.”
READ MORE: Man charged with attempted murder in serious assault of 6-year-old Alberta girl
Ramona and James, the accused’s parents, issued a statement Sunday saying they are deeply shocked and mortified, and still find it hard to believe what happened.
“It’s hard to believe. It’s just not the person we know,” said James. They added James Clifford Paul didn’t have substance abuse problems and often took care of his younger brothers and sisters.
“As the parents of another eight children — with four under the age of eight — we all pray for the little girl’s recovery each and every day,” the statement reads. (Read the full statement below).
“We haven’t stopped praying, and know the pain and hurt we are feeling for the little girl is a pain many Canadians are feeling.”
The young girl continues to recover at the Stollery.
The parents say they — along with their young children — have also become victims of the horrendous December 20 crime on the first nation because of the threats against them.
“Almost immediately we started getting threats,” said James.
“We didn’t do anything and our kids didn’t do anything, but we had to flee our home on Paul Band Reserve because of threats and the very real fear of violence against us.”
The family said they moved from their home on the reserve to an unknown location two days after the attack, on the same day RCMP laid charges and released more details of the crime.
“I think they’re just out to hurt us because of what happened,” said Ramona. “To me, I don’t think that’s fair…to go after my family. My family… they’re all young.”
“It’s understandable there’s anger in the community, but threatening our family, our children, that’s not going to make it right. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” James told Global News.
“If anything, it’s going to make the problem worse.”
In the statement, the Strongs said violence, drug and alcohol abuse is prevalent on the reserve, adding, “You just keep your head down and hope you don’t become a target — but our family is now a target. And if we return to our home we won’t get any fair trial that is sure enough.”
The family thanked both RCMP and reserve officials for helping them move quickly, as well as for the support they have received.
“I was sad we had to leave our home, but then I was grateful my kids were going to be somewhere safe… We’re not planning on going back. For the safety of our children and for ourselves, we’re planning our future somewhere else.”
“No, we’re not going back to back to our home,” echoed James. “We’ll find a new home.
“There’s nothing out there for us now. There’s nothing for our kids out there now.”
In the statement, the Strongs also said they continue to pray for the girl’s recovery, and for a better future for both their family and others on the Paul Band Reserve.
“We also pray for the leaders in the community to find the strength to help fix these problems before things get even worse.”
Paul First Nation is located about 35 kilometres southwest of Stony Plain, near Wabamun Lake. James Clifford Paul will appear in court later this month.
READ BELOW: Full Statement from Ramona and James Strong.
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