Leaving husband 'a scary thing' says mother of alleged incest victim

DISTURBING CONTENT: The following story includes frank descriptions of incest and sexual assault

The former wife of a local man first accused of molesting his daughter nearly 40 years ago told a judge Thursday she left her husband after the teenager disclosed that he was doing "horrible things" to her.

The woman said she moved out of their home in January 1980, a month after the girl "shared the dreadful things" that had been happening to her.

"I wanted to get my children out of there because (she) shared shocking information with me and I wanted to give them a safe place to be."

Now in her 70s, the woman said her daughter told her about an incident that had occurred during a family trip a year earlier, indicating sexual intercourse had taken place in a trailer.

The woman said her initial reaction was that the teen was saying these things because her father was so mean to her.

But when her daughter talked about the trailer incident "I knew she was telling the truth," the witness explained to assistant Crown attorney Trent Wilson. 

"She was very upset for a girl who never showed emotion."

The accused's ex-wife is among three prosecution witnesses who have taken the stand at the trial.

Superior Court Justice Michael Varpio has also heard from the man's daughter and a second complainant, who also alleges she was sexually abused by the man.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to five charges - rape, incest, sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 14, and two counts of indecent assault.

A publication ban prohibits reporting any information that could identify the complainants.

On Thursday, the woman said the teen had indicated there had been many incidents with her father that had occurred "when I was at church."

"She didn't tell any specifics. I took it to mean it could mean anything sexual," she testified, indicating she didn't ask "because I was so embarrassed."

Ten days after her daughter's disclosure, the woman said she spoke to a lawyer and then confronted her husband.

"He told me I was lying and I told him I believe this is true."

Leaving the home was "a scary thing" because "I had no job, no access to money," but she said she took this action to get her children out of there.

Varpio heard she spoke to police officers in the fall of 1980, after her 16-year-old daughter (then considered an adult) went to the police, without her knowledge.

The woman said she gave the officers a statement, telling them what she knew.

'I'm ashamed to this day that I didn't contact police. It would be the normal thing for a mother to do and I never thought of it."

No charges were laid 38 years ago.

The complainant contacted the Sault Ste. Police Service in 2016, and the accused was arrested and charged in regards to the alleged dated offences.

Her mother insisted during her testimony Thursday that until this day her daughter has never shared details with her about what occurred.

"I just know it was sexual. She won't share details with me and I don't think I want to know them."

The witness said she learned in 1991 of allegations involving her sister, but doesn't doesn't "know nothing about what he was alleged to have done."

The charges faced by the accused, include counts involving her sibling, which are alleged to have occurred when she was a child

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Wayne Chorney, she agreed her former husband has never admitted any wrongdoing to her.

She said that prior to her daughter's disclosure she was not aware of anything of that nature occurring.

"I was not suspicious," she told Chorney. "I wasn't looking for things and I don't remember seeing things."

The defence pushed her on why she hadn't gone to police.

"I did not want to expose him. It just never entered my mind. I just wanted to get away and be safe."

Reiterating that she was "very ashamed" about not calling police right away, she added "who cares about exposing him."

"I wasn't very smart then," and didn't understand the impact such things have on children.

The witness said she didn't attempt to persuade the officers not to lay charges, but admitted she wasn't very happy to be there speaking to them.

"I was naive. I didn't want any trouble."

She said she had spoken to her sister after she had received a subpoena this summer to testify at the trial, but there was no discussion about the allegations.

"It was not something we wanted to talk about. I was very uncomfortable bringing it up," she told the defence.

"Why would I want to speak about it? It's pretty ugly."

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