Lawyers make closing arguments at assault trial for former director at Saskatoon Christian school
Lawyers have made their closing arguments at the trial for a former director of a private Christian school in Saskatoon.
John Olubobokun, 64, is charged with nine counts of assault with a weapon for allegedly using a wooden paddle to hit students. The charges date back to when he was the director at Christian Centre Academy for four years starting in 2003.
The school was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy.
The trial in Saskatoon provincial court began in June 2024 with testimony from nine students and other Crown witnesses, then continued in March with defence witnesses.
On Friday, defence lawyer Ron Piché argued the testimony Olubobokun gave in his own defence, as well as the testimony of other defence witnesses, raises reasonable doubt.
"He was very clear that as director, he was not responsible for this type of conduct, this type of discipline," Piché said.
Piché questioned why the students didn't go to their parents or to police at the time of the alleged paddlings and why there are no photographs of bruising.
Judge Lisa Watson interjected to note that Piché's musings were "speculative," particularly given the insular nature of the community of the school and its associated church.
Piché also insinuated the former students have a financial interest in the outcome of the case, as there is a separate civil case — a proposed class-action lawsuit — against the school and connected church.
There was some discussion about Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which reads: "Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances."
In 2004, a Supreme Court of Canada ruling narrowed the scope of the section, including by saying an object cannot be used. It defined "reasonable" force as that which would have a "transitory and trifling" impact on the child.
Referencing the use of objects, Watson asked Piché if he had any case law where an instrument is used and it falls within the parameters of Section 43.
"No," Piché answered.
Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo argued that by virtue of the allegations, "with the implement being used," there is no defence under Section 43.
She said it was important for the court to hear about the "unique situation" of how the school was run and interconnected with the church, and the consequences students and their entire families would face for speaking out. The school and the church are in the same building.
"These were people that were at the church almost daily — at the school, at the church, at this building, almost daily," Fillo said.
In response to Piché's reference to the civil suit, Fillo pointed out how, during their testimonies, she asked each former student about when they decided to come forward to police, and that they all had reasons for doing so when they did.
The judge is scheduled to give her decision on July 21.
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Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Last month, Kingston Police logged its first use of the label in a news release. Police said they determined the death of a 25-year-old woman to be a femicide because it occurred 'in the context of intimate partner violence,' and they arrested a 26-year-old man for first-degree murder. They confirmed it was their first time describing a homicide in this way. 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They include a woman or girl being killed by her intimate partner or family member, a victim having had a history of being harassed and sexual violence playing a role in the crime. In some cases, more than one factor can be at play. 'They're killed in distinct ways from men and boys, and they're killed in many ways because of men and boys being entitled to relationships with them and expecting that women don't get to decide when they don't want a relationship any longer,' Dawson said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Using the UN framework, her group has counted 1,014 femicides across Canada since it began tracking the killing of women and girls in 2018. That included 187 femicides last year. 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