'I’m a survivor': Witness tells jury of escape plan at sexual assault trial
A London, Ont. jury heard evidence on Tuesday of how the children involved in a case of sexual abuse eventually fled their home and contacted police.
The witness — who cannot be identified — has been on the stand testifying for one week. Under cross-examination from the defence, the child who is now an adult continued with the disturbing narrative.
”My mother is a psycho, my father is a psycho, you’d have to know them, you’d have to see what happened in my childhood,” she said.
Talking about their upbringing the witness continued, “I’m a scared child with an abuser in the house…I’m a survivor.”
The court heard that the Children’s Aid Society would eventually get involved and the parents were aware of it.
”I was forced to protect our father, he was still abusing us…that’s why we left in the middle of the night,” she testified.
The siblings would ultimately contact the police.
“They asked me if I wanted to come with them and I said, ‘Yes I would,’” she said.
The parents, who are both in their fifties, face a total of 47 charges including sexual assault with a weapon, incest, forcible confinement and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2003 and 2020.
The accused have both pleaded not guilty.
The first two witnesses at the trial have both described years of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of their mother and father.
When asked by the defence why the witness didn’t initially tell the authorities about the full extent of the events described during testimony, the witness said, “I wasn’t comfortable talking about everything that happened to me.”
The trial is now into its fourth week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
TD penalties expected to be higher on alleged drug money laundering link: analyst
A banking analyst says TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
DEVELOPING Foreign interference inquiry to report today on alleged meddling in federal elections
A federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference is slated to release a report today on alleged meddling in the last two general elections.
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Western Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
BREAKING Winnipeg man accused of killing four women will be tried by jury
A Winnipeg man accused of killing four Indigenous women will have his case heard by a jury.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'