Close X
Saturday, January 11, 2025
ADVT 
National

No Decision Yet About Whether Charest Will Testify At His Sex Assault Trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Mar, 2017 11:49 AM
    SAINT-JEROME, Que. — Lawyers for former ski coach Bertrand Charest said Thursday they still didn't know whether he will testify at his sex assault trial.
     
    Defence lawyer Jacky-Eric Salvant said the decision will be made over the weekend.
     
    Salvant said he and his co-counsel will present a defence with "key witnesses," regardless of whether Charest takes the stand.
     
    Charest, 51, is on trial on 57 charges, including sexual assault and breach of trust, in relation to 12 complainants between the ages of 12 and 19.
     
    The allegations date back to the 1990s, a few years before and during the time he worked for Alpine Canada's women's development team, between 1996 and 1998.
     
    On Thursday, a woman who had taken the stand last week and accused Charest of inappropriate touching, returned to complete her testimony.
     
    She had found an old journal as well as letters dating from the time she was one of his ski students, in the 1990s.
     
    The woman told the court that when she was 15, Charest told her he loved her.
     
    She said at the time she thought she was in love with him.
     
    In one of the letters Charest had written her, he said he hoped she would keep their relationship secret.
     
    The Crown is expected to present its final witness Friday when the 12th complainant testifies.
     
    Salvant predicted that the trial, including closing arguments, will be finished by the end of next week.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Man Accused Of Killing Off-duty Police Officer Arrested For Alleged Bail Breach

    Man Accused Of Killing Off-duty Police Officer Arrested For Alleged Bail Breach
    Garnier is charged with second-degree murder in the 2015 death of Truro police officer Catherine Campbell, and won bail shortly before Christmas.

    Man Accused Of Killing Off-duty Police Officer Arrested For Alleged Bail Breach

    Man Bent On Killing As Many Co-workers As He Could At Edmonton Warehouse: Crown

    Man Bent On Killing As Many Co-workers As He Could At Edmonton Warehouse: Crown
    EDMONTON — Crown prosecutors say an Edmonton man accused of murdering two co-workers and wounding others at a grocery warehouse in 2014 planned to kill anyone he could find.

    Man Bent On Killing As Many Co-workers As He Could At Edmonton Warehouse: Crown

    1 Boy Dead, 1 In Hospital After Falling Through Ice In Neighbourhood Canal

    1 Boy Dead, 1 In Hospital After Falling Through Ice In Neighbourhood Canal
      A woman who lives in the area called 911 after she saw the two boys go through the ice. Firefighters pulled the boys from the freezing water and they were rushed to hospital, but the younger boy died.

    1 Boy Dead, 1 In Hospital After Falling Through Ice In Neighbourhood Canal

    Case Of Accused In Quebec City Mosque Shootings To Resume March 30

    Case Of Accused In Quebec City Mosque Shootings To Resume March 30
    QUEBEC — The case of the man charged with murder in last month's mosque shootings in Quebec City will resume March 30.

    Case Of Accused In Quebec City Mosque Shootings To Resume March 30

    Surrey Creep Catchers Under Investigation By B.C. Privacy Watchdog

    Surrey Creep Catchers Under Investigation By B.C. Privacy Watchdog
    VICTORIA — British Columbia's privacy watchdog has launched a probe into a controversial vigilante group.

    Surrey Creep Catchers Under Investigation By B.C. Privacy Watchdog

    Vancouver Police Say Burnaby Man Injured In Apparently Targeted Shooting

    Vancouver Police Say Burnaby Man Injured In Apparently Targeted Shooting
    He remains in hospital in serious, but stable condition.

    Vancouver Police Say Burnaby Man Injured In Apparently Targeted Shooting