(Madam Justice Alison J. Beames (Kelowna) •Appointed to Supreme Court August 7, 1996)
Supreme Court Penticton – Monday December 4th –
A 26 year old Oliver man has been found not guilty of criminal charges involving a minor in a BC courtroom.
The young man, who can only be identified as T.B. due to a publication ban, was acquitted by Justice Alison Beames due to inconsistencies in the evidence of the now 15-year-old complainant.
Justice Beames said the Crown has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Beames said the relationship between T.B. (age 20 at the time of the charges being laid) and the complainant (age 9 – then), was unusually close – enough to raise suspicions. But she said suspicion is not enough to convict.
The incidents in question took place in 2011 and 2012. The fathers of the complainant and the accused were best friends.
T.B. has always denied anything sexual ever took place. The court heard he approached the police to give his side of the story after hearing a rumour circulating that he had molested the boy. He was willing to testify in two separate trials. The first trial decision overturned by the BC court of appeal.
He was acquitted Monday on three criminal charges – authorized by the crown.
” After 6 years of this – let’s hope this kid can get his life back..” defence lawyer Don Skogstad told reporters outside the courtroom.
To state the obvious…. the family of the complainant was not happy with the court’s decision.