Trial Begins For Mountie Accused Of Sexual Assault

Trial Begins For Mountie Accused Of Sexual Assault

Monday, October 16, 2006 at 14:06

 

 

Testimony has begun at the trial of an RCMP officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman in La Ronge.

 

The first person to take the stand at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench this morning was Corporal David Peter Needham.

 

The 27-year veteran was the primary investigating officer assigned to probe the case against Thierry Jacques.

 

Jacques is alleged to have assaulted the woman on September 4th, 2004 inside the parking bay of the La Ronge RCMP detachment.

 

Needham, who was assigned to the case in November, says the first thing he did was view a videotaped statement made by the alleged victim.

 

He then interviewed her in person, along with several guards and other officers.

 

Needham then seized a shirt the victim claimed to have been wearing when the incident took place, and ordered a forensic examination.

 

When asked by a Crown prosecutor what he thought some dark splotches on the shirt were, Needham replied he thought they were caused by semen.

 

He also testified the fluid matched Jacques’ DNA.

 

The trial is set to continue for the next two weeks.

 

A judge has ordered a publication ban on any information that could reveal the identity of the woman.