Latest news with #LegacyChristianAcademy
CBC
26-05-2025
- CBC
Trial of former private Christian school administrator cancelled, next steps unclear
Social Sharing A former administrator charged with assaulting students at a private Christian school in Saskatoon was scheduled to have a jury trial this week. But while the jury was told to go home and the court was expecting a guilty plea on Monday, that didn't happen. Ken Schultz, a former director and vice-principal at Christian Centre Academy, is charged with assault with a weapon for allegedly striking students with a wooden paddle in the early 2000s. He is also charged with sexual assault. Christian Centre Academy has since been renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy. Schultz had elected to have a jury trial, but earlier this month re-elected to have a trial by judge alone. A resolution to the case was expected to happen in Saskatoon Court of King's Bench on Monday. However, his lawyer Shea Neudorf said in court Monday that "discussions broke down" with Schultz when they were discussing "plea comprehension" — essentially, what's involved in a guilty plea — and the defence team was "not in a position to proceed." She asked Justice Krista Zerr for an adjournment until Friday. Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo told the judge she had been prepared to proceed until she was told the defence would be applying for an adjournment. The judge granted the adjournment and scheduled a conference call between herself, the lawyers and Schultz on Friday afternoon. She said the reason for holding a conference call rather a court appearance was an "attempt to avoid members of the public and interested parties attending court if the matter is not going to proceed in a substantive way on Friday." They're expected to discuss Friday whether they'll be setting a court date for an anticipated joint submission and sentencing, or whether the defence lawyers will be withdrawing and Schultz will have to find a new lawyer and set new trial dates. Schultz is not the only administrator from the school charged with hitting students with a wooden paddle. Last week, a jury found Duff Friesen, a former principal, guilty of one charge of assault with a weapon and not guilty on three others. He is awaiting sentencing. There is a publication ban on all the evidence at that trial, as Friesen has another jury trial, on seven similar charges, set for September. John Olubobokun, a former director at the school, stood trial on nine counts of assault with a weapon. The provincial court judge in his case heard closing arguments earlier this month and is scheduled to give her verdict on July 21.
CBC
22-05-2025
- CBC
Jury acquits former Legacy Christian Academy principal accused of paddling students on 3 of 4 charges
A jury has acquitted Duff Arthur Friesen, the former principal of Legacy Christian Academy in Saskatoon, on three of four assault charges after he was accused of hitting students with a wooden paddle two decades ago. The six men and six women on the jury deliberated for about five hours Wednesday before delivering the verdict to Justice Natasha Crooks at Court of King's Bench. There is a court-ordered ban on publishing any evidence from the trial because Friesen has a second jury trial, on seven similar charges, set for September. Friesen's lawyer, Daniel Mol, said outside court that he would be appealing the one guilty count. Friesen declined to comment. He faced a total of 11 counts of assault, all stemming from allegations that, as principal of the private Christian school in the 2003-04 school year, he hit students with a wooden paddle. The school has since changed its name to Valour Academy.
CBC
12-05-2025
- CBC
1st of 2 jury trials begins for former principal of Saskatoon private Christian school accused of assault
The former principal of a private Christian school in Saskatoon is getting his day in court. Duff Arthur Friesen's jury trial at Court of King's Bench before Justice Natasha Crooks began Monday in Saskatoon. Friesen is facing 11 counts of assault, all stemming from allegations that, as principal of Legacy Christian Academy in the 2003-2004 school year, he hit students with a wooden paddle. The school has since changed its name to Valour Academy. Seven days have been set aside this month for the trial. It will deal with four of the charges, with the remaining seven examined in a separate jury trial in September. Crooks granted a publication ban requested by Friesen. Her order prevents reporting on "any evidence led, submissions made, exhibits filed, or victim impact statements in the event sentencing is required," she wrote April 7. "To be clear, this publication ban does not extend to the verdict rendered in the May Jury Trial, any plea which may be entered in relation to the charges, nor to any sentence which may be imposed by the Court." In his application, Friesen argued that ongoing media coverage of the trial this month may prejudice the jury in the September trial.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- CTV News
Assault trial begins for Duff Friesen, former principal of Saskatoon's Legacy Christian Academy
The assault trial for a former principal of a private Christian school began at Saskatoon's Court of King's Bench on Monday. Duff Arthur Friesen, 67, is facing 11 charges of assault with a weapon. He is being tried on the first four charges now, and the other seven charges (by different complainants) in September. The alleged incidents happened while Friesen was a principal at the then-called Christian Centre Academy. The school — operated by Mile Two Church — rebranded as Legacy Christian Academy, and most-recently as Valour Academy. In 2021 and 2022, former students went to police alleging physical abuse by staff. Friesen was working as a principal at Prince Albert's Regent Academy when he turned himself in to Saskatoon police on June 15, 2023. On Nov. 16, 2023 Friesen pleaded not guilty to the 11 counts of assault with a weapon. Jury selection for Friesen's trial began Monday. Justice Natasha Crooks granted Friesen's request for a publication ban. The publication ban prevents reporting of all evidence, lawyers' arguments, exhibits filed and possible victim-impact statements. Journalists are allowed to report on the court process, the verdict, and any sentence imposed — if Friesen is found guilty. The publication ban aims to protect the integrity of Friesen's second jury trial scheduled for Sept. 15.
Global News
12-05-2025
- Global News
Former Christian school principal on trial for assault charges in Saskatoon
A former principal at a private Christian school in Saskatoon is now facing trial on multiple assault charges. Duff Arthur Friesen's trial began Monday at the Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon, with jurors selected that same morning. The trial is set to run until May 21. Friesen, 67, who elected to be tried by a judge and jury, is facing 11 counts of assault with a weapon. However, this trial will address four of these charges, which were laid in June 2023. The charges stem from allegations reported to authorities in 2021 and 2022. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The reported incidents are alleged to have taken place during the 2003-04 school year at what was then known as Christian Centre Academy, later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, and now called Valour Academy, operated by Mile Two Church. Friesen is one of several former staff members named in a $25-million class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by former students, claims there was a long-standing history of physical and sexual abuse at the school. Story continues below advertisement A second jury trial related to the remaining charges against Friesen is scheduled for September. Before the trial, Friesen requested a publication ban on all court proceedings, including the verdict. A hearing on this request took place in March, with some media organizations opposing the ban. In April, Justice Natasha Crooks granted the request, and the publication ban will remain in effect until the conclusion of Friesen's second trial in September.
