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CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Former Saskatoon Christian school director found guilty of assaulting students with a weapon
Social Sharing The former director of a Saskatoon private Christian school has been found guilty on nine counts of assault with a weapon. John Olubobokun was accused of using a wooden paddle to hit students 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. Judge Lisa Watson outlined her reasoning in a lengthy decision Monday afternoon in provincial court. Watson said the Crown proved without a reasonable doubt that Olubobokun assaulted the complainants. She gave detailed accounts of each victim's evidence. Former students said they were often accused of misbehaviour, called into the director's office, told to bend over a desk or chair, and struck multiple times with a wooden paddle. Some students testified they were left bruised. One said the paddle broke while they were being struck. Emotions ran high in the courtroom Monday. Former students and supporters let out loud sighs of relief when the guilty decisions were announced, then sobbed and held each other as they walked out of the courtroom. "To have the justice systems say this wasn't OK, that's very validating and healing for everybody," said Caitlin Erickson, a former student at the school. "Very emotional ... it's been a very long time for us to wait to have our day in court and for justice to play out finally." Erickson said it's a win for all former students of the school, not just those who testified. WATCH | Former Saskatoon Christian school director found guilty of assaulting students: The trial began in June 2024 with testimony from nine students and other Crown witnesses, then continued in March with defence witnesses. During closing arguments, defence lawyer Ron Piché questioned why the students didn't go to their parents or police at the time of the alleged paddlings and why there are no photographs of bruising. He also pointed to a separate civil case, a $25-million class action lawsuit, which has been dismissed, suggesting the complainants had financial motives. There was discussion during closing arguments 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. Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo previously argued that by virtue of the allegations, "with the implement being used," there was 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 during her closing argument. A sentencing date for Olubobokun has not been set.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Former Saskatoon Christian school director found guilty of assaulting students
A Saskatoon judge has found John Olubobokun, former director at Christian Centre Academy in Saskatoon, guilty on all nine counts of assault with a weapon. Former students say they were struck with a paddle while attending the school.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Former Christian school director found guilty of assault with a weapon
A former private Christian school director has been found guilty on all nine charges of assault with a weapon. During her two-hour decision, Justice Lisa Watson found John Olubobokun, 65, hit students with a wooden paddle while he was a director at Christian Centre Academy from 2003 - 2007. The school has since changed names twice, first to Legacy Christian Academy, and is now known as Valour Academy. Olubobokun's trial began in June 2024 with nine former students testifying that he hit them with a wooden paddle. The trial then resumed in March with testimony from defence witnesses including Olubobokun himself. During his testimony, he denied paddling any students. He agreed paddling was part of the disciplinary process, but said it was carried out by the principal. He testified wooden paddles were removed from the school in 2004, following a Supreme Court ruling that banned corporal punishment. In her decision, Watson said she found Olubobokun was not credible, citing several inconsistencies in his testimony. She also found he changed demeanour during his testimony and was evasive in cross examination. Watson believed paddles continued to be used in the school following the supreme court ruling. She found the crown's witnesses credible and believed all nine students were hit with a wooden paddle. Former student Caitlin Erickson said hearing the verdict was validating. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
