Accused in alleged sex assault at SJR appears in court
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/04/2010 (5624 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WINNIPEG — An 18-year-old male who faces charges of sexual assault in connection with an emerging scandal at Winnipeg’s St. John’s-Ravenscourt School appeared in court today.
The teen, represented by defence lawyer Sheldon Pinx, appeared via video screen from the Remand Centre, hoping to apply for bail.
The Crown asked for a day to work on the case as they are still receiving information from police and need to go over the evidence. The case was put over until Friday. The Crown indicated they intend to oppose bail.
Four male students, including the 18-year-old, face charges of sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering threats in the case. The three other suspects – two aged 16 years old and one aged 17 year old – will be treated as young offenders under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. None are believed to have had prior involvement with law.
“Based on the information received by the investigators following the interview with one of the victims yesterday, there was enough information there to bring about this charge of sexual assault,” Winnipeg Police spokeswoman Const. Jackie Chaput said Thursday.
Court documents indicate one common victim among the four accused and reference sexual assault "with a wooden stick" in repeated incidents between September and December 2009.
There are reportedly as many as 15 potential victims involved in the case, though school officials have confirmed only that at least four students in Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 were involved.
The investigation came to light last Wednesday after an SJR day student told a teacher about the incidents, which allegedly took place last fall.
School officials contacted parents Friday about an assault involving boarding school students and spoke to media, and then went to police Sunday with details. SJR head Stephen Johnson said the school had to contact lawyers and students’ parents before approaching police.
Four students were initially suspended, parents were told, but school officials did not initially indicate the alleged assaults were sexual in nature.
All four suspects were in custody as of Wednesday night.
The investigation is now being handled by the Winnipeg Police Service Child Abuse Unit and the Sex Crimes Unit. Chaput said additional charges are pending.
History
Updated on Thursday, April 15, 2010 12:24 PM CDT: Adds more details.