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Sex with would-be model was consensual, testifies former Winnipeg police officer

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 04/24/2012 11:57 AM | Last Modified: 04/24/2012 9:13 PM | Updates

A retired Winnipeg police officer denies sexually assaulting a woman when he was moonlighting as a photographer.

Richard Dow, 57, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault Monday at the start of a weeklong jury trial. The charge is connected to an April 2000 incident involving an 18-year-old woman that didn't surface until police began looking at Dow's home-based business, Ricoco International, and seized photographs in 2006.

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Dow told a Court of Queen's Bench jury Tuesday that the sexual contact between him and the would-be model was consensual.

Dow said the sex occurred after a photo shoot in April 2000 during which she agreed to have topless photos taken of herself and have him rub baby oil on her.

"It was a pretty hot makeout session," he said. "It appeared we were both enjoying it."

The woman, now 30, testified Monday that she met Dow after answering a newspaper ad looking for models. She had never modelled but wanted to put a portfolio together so she could find work to supplement her income.

Dow promised not to charge for a photo shoot at a St. James-area home, court was told. In exchange, he would take a cut of any work she received as a result of the pictures.

She said the evening began innocently enough but took a twist when Dow began offering her alcoholic drinks; she estimated she had at least seven drinks during the six-hour shoot. Dow also encouraged her to shed some clothing as the pictures got more risqué. she said.

At one point, she said, Dow burst into the bathroom while she was changing and put his hands on her breasts. The woman testified that after the shoot, Dow took her down to the ground and began fondling her before carrying her into his bedroom. Dow allegedly made her perform a sexual act before forcing intercourse on her.

"I was so drunk I could barely move. I was limp, in and out of consciousness. He kind of just had his way with me," she said.

She didn't tell anyone about the sexual assault until police called her six years later, wanting to speak about her involvement with Dow.

The trial continues.

With files from Mike McIntyre