The Supreme Court of B.C. has found a man not guilty of seven charges related to a Cranbrook sexual assault case that concluded early this April.
The three siblings involved in the matter were between the ages of 11 and 18 when the allegations took place from 1998 to 2000.
Trials began in July 2025 and concluded on April 7 this year.
They each testified against their mother’s boyfriend at the time of the alleged abuse, but no other witnesses were called.
The man faced three counts of sexual assault, two counts of uttering threats and one count of sexual exploitation, but presiding Madam Justice Baljinder Girn noted that conflicting details between the complainants’ testimonies have not proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The accused was cleared of all seven counts.
“My determination should not be taken as a finding that the complainants lied about what happened to them when they lived in Cranbrook from 1997-2000, nor should it be taken as a personal reflection upon the complainants,” said Girn.
“It should not even be taken as a suggestion that their version of events is impossible. Rather, my conclusion is the outcome of the stringent standard of proof required in a criminal trial.”
All identities have been protected under a publication ban.
More details on the court decision can be found here.
*Note: The court decision has content that some may find disturbing.
Comments