Quebec screenwriter comes forward as second victim in Jutra abuse allegations

MONTREAL – A second person has come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Quebec filmmaker Claude Jutra.

Bernard Dansereau, a screenwriter best known for the drama series Annie et ses hommes, said he was sexually abused by the late filmmaker when he was around 12- or 13-years-old.

A biography released earlier this week said Jutra slept with young boys, while Montreal La Presse quoted a man Wednesday who said the late filmmaker began touching him when he was six years old and  the abuse escalated over a 10-year period.

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READ MORE: Claude Jutra, Quebec movie director, accused of sex with young boys

In a letter he wrote to La Presse, Dansereau said the alleged abuse took place at Jutra’s home in the early 1970s.

According to Dansereau, a drunk Jutra sneaked into his bed when the former was a guest at his house and that the encounter led to sexual intercourse.

READ MORE: Claude Jutra’s name to be pulled from Quebec Cinema awards show

Dansereau, whose own father Fernand was also a filmmaker, says he avoided Jutra for the two years following the incident.

As an adult  Dansereau worked with Jutras and no mention was ever made about the night in question.

Although the alleged abuse only happened once, Dansereau has no qualms about labeling Jutra a pedophile and says he has a lot of compassion for  “Jean” the anonymous victim quoted in La Presse on Wednesday.