Court told of horrific allegations of abuse

A two-week civil trial against the Yukon government involving allegations of sexual abuse and torture began Monday in Yukon Supreme Court, with Justice John Richard presiding.

A two-week civil trial against the Yukon government involving allegations of sexual abuse and torture began Monday in Yukon Supreme Court, with Justice John Richard presiding.

The 34-year-old plaintiff, who cannot be identified under a court-ordered publication ban, alleges he was abused and tortured as a young child by a man and a woman, both defendants in the case and whose identities are also protected.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Dan Shier, said in his opening statment the testimony of the female defendant, his first witness, will “set the backdrop for all the other evidence.“

Lawyers for the defence include Keith Parrkari, John Henderson and Laurelle Harris.

Shier outlined the circumstances of the alleged abuse in his opening statement and described some of the testimony the court will hear during the trial.

The female defendant, who is 42, became a ward of the Yukon government in 1968, said Shier.

She lived in various group homes and foster homes until she was discharged when she turned 18, he said.

During this time, she was the victim of repeated sexual assaults from fellow residents at the group home, court was told.

Shier said that “things changed dramatically in her life” when, at age 10, the defendant went to live in a receiving home in Dawson City.

The defendant was identified as “sexually precocious” and “sexually curious” at this time.

A group home report Shier quoted from includes concerns about the defendant’s tendencies of “running around late at night and getting drunk.“

The group home in Dawson City relocated to Whitehorse in 1978, when the female defendant was 12, said Shier.

The plaintiff’s own experience with sexual abuse began when the female defendant babysat him as a child, court was told.

The plaintiff was subject to being hung upside down from a cliff, being forced to smoke cigarettes, having his head held under water, and was the victim of sexual assault, said Shier.

Shier said the female defendant will “take responsibility” for these and other acts when she takes the stand.

Shier is arguing that more care should have been taken to ensure state wards were not suffering from abuse.