A Regina judge has reserved her decision in the sexual assault trial of a former high school teacher until the new year.
36 year-old Corey Matthews is accused of sexually assaulting a student at an inner city high school seven years ago.
Yesterday, lawyers presented their closing arguments.
The lawyer for Matthews says the prosecution’s case is based solely on the say so of an unsavory witness with a lengthy criminal record and a history of lying.
Barry Nychuk says there is no corroborating testimony, no physical evidence, no DNA, nothing.
He says the accuser made up the story in the hopes of getting some form of compensation for being sexually assaulted.
Nychuk says the real victim in this case is Mr. Matthews, who can’t find work, and whose life has been profoundly affected by the allegations.
Prosecutor, Connie Hottinger says the accuser had nothing to gain by testifying.
She says he was credible, calm and did not embellish.
She says just because he has a criminal past does not mean he should not be believed.
The young man, who is now 22, told the trial he had sexual relations with Matthews on four occasions while he was a student at Scott Collegiate in 2006. He would have been about 15 at the time. In one of the incidents he says he performed oral sex on Matthews while parked in his truck on a street about a block from Scott Collegiate during the noon hour.
Matthews told the trial he had absolutely no sexual contact with the student at any time, and cannot remember even being alone with him.
Matthews is charged with sexual assault and abusing a position of authority.
If convicted he could face about 10 years in prison.