RCMP Sex Assault Trial Wraps Up
Friday, October 20, 2006 at 16:09
A judge has reserved his decision on whether an RCMP Mountie is guilty of sexually-assaulting a woman in La Ronge two years ago.
The lawyer for Constable Thierry Jacques and the crown prosecutor both delivered closing arguments in the case this morning.
Jacques’ lawyer says there are too many inconsistencies in the woman’s testimony to treat her credibly.
In particular, he says she gave different accounts of her alleged attacker’s hair colour, and yet claims not to have looked at the man’s face.
He also points out she herself agrees to having alcohol-related blackouts during the time in question.
Meantime, the crown has painted a much different story.
Prosecutor Inez Cardinal says she can’t believe a seasoned constable didn’t keep any notes of the time in question.
She also wonders why the woman didn’t wash the stained shirt that was found to contain Jacques’ DNA.
Cardinal asked if the two had consensual sex at Jacques apartment like he claims, why didn’t she wash the shirt.
She said if you believe Jacques’ testimony, the woman must have had sex with Jacques, not washed the stained shirt, then worn it weeks later when she was arrested.
Cardinal held up a photograph of the woman taken at 11:45 p.m. September 3rd, 2004, at the police station. In the picture, she is wearing the shirt.
The judge is due to hand down his decision Tuesday afternoon.