Latest news with #NeilBarry
CBC
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Jury finds former N.W.T. teacher guilty of sexual assaults
WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it. A jury has found former N.W.T. teacher and coach Neil Barry guilty of sexual assault and sexual exploitation after a weeks-long jury trial. The jury made its decision on Saturday night just after 8 p.m., finding Barry guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation. He was acquitted on one charge of sexual assault. Barry looked visibly upset, holding his face in his hand. The jury began deliberations Friday. Barry worked as a teacher in the N.W.T. between 2007 and 2017. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation, all related to incidents alleged to have happened between 2007 and 2011. He was accused of assaulting four boys, who were between 16 and 18 years old at the time. During the trial, complainants testified that Barry had touched them inappropriately when they were sleeping, masturbated in front of them, and played card games with them where players were required to strip down to their underwear. One young man also said that Barry had performed oral sex on him without his consent. During his own testimony, Barry admitted to playing card games that involved stripping with boys he coached in sports. He said stripping only happened "once or twice" during those games, and was not sexual but rather "a dare, to be funny." He also testified that two players did accidentally walk in on him masturbating in his home, but he never intentionally masturbated in front of them. Barry denied all allegations of sexual assault against him by former players.
CBC
08-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Former N.W.T teacher and coach made years of 'inappropriate choices,' Crown argues at trial
WARNING: This article contains graphic details that may be disturbing. It also may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it. A Crown prosecutor says a former N.W.T. teacher and coach facing sexual assault charges made several "inappropriate choices" over the years involving some of his players. Neil Barry, who is facing three counts of sexual abuse and three counts of sexual exploitation, was cross-examined by the prosecutor in a Yellowknife courtroom this week. Barry's jury trial is now in its third week. He has denied having any sexual contact with his complainants and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecutor alleges Barry sexually abused four boys, then aged 16 to 18, between 2007 and 2011. During his cross-examination, Barry said he remembers sleeping in the same bed as one of the complainants but told the jury he did not sexually assault him. Barry testified that as coach, he would occasionally share a bed with his players when they were staying in hotels for out-of-town sporting events, but he said it was always in a room with other players sleeping in another bed. Crown prosecutor Angie Paquin argued that it was inappropriate for Barry, as a guardian, to drink alcohol, play card games with the boys that involved stripping, and make dirty jokes. "You were in a parental position for them, and decided to play that card game," Paquin said. Barry said, in hindsight, that his behaviour was immature, but said that the jokes were innocent. Barry testified earlier that he did play card games at his home with some of the players he coached, but said there was never any drinking during the games, as the players allege. He said one card game they played included dares where "once or twice" players or he would be required to take off clothing down to their underwear. The Crown said Barry made several other inappropriate choices over the years, including incidents where he kissed one of his students after conversations at his house, without asking permission from the student or his parents. "It was a mutual peck, not even a kiss," Barry said, adding that it was normal for both of them to do that. Barry also testified that two of the boys once walked in on him in the bathroom while he was masturbating. He said he was embarrassed and immediately asked them to shut the door. The Crown suggested that Barry wanted the boys to see him and had deliberately performed the sexual act in front of them. Toward the end of the cross-examination, the Crown told the court how each of the complainants gave similar testimony of waking up to Barry sexually assaulting them, both at his house and in hotels during sports trips. The Crown said Barry chose to act during a vulnerable state, while they were sleeping. Barry continued to deny the allegations, saying "nothing ever happened." Paquin suggested Barry became emotional toward the end of his testimony because he had heard his accusers tell the truth about the incidents. Barry said it was "because I cared for the boys." The Crown and defence are expected to deliver closing arguments on Thursday, and the trial is expected to wrap up by the end of the week.
CBC
07-05-2025
- CBC
Former N.W.T teacher and coach denies sexually assaulting boys
Neil Barry testified in his own defence in the third week of his jury trial in Yellowknife. He is facing multiple sex-related charges involving four boys. CBC's Nadeer Hashmi has more from the trial. A warning, the story contains details that may be distressing to viewers.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Former N.W.T. teacher denies abusing boys
WARNING: This article contains graphic details that may be disturbing. It also may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it. A former N.W.T. teacher and coach accused of sexually assaulting some of his players denied he had any kind of sexual contact with his accusers. Neil Barry testified in his own defence on Monday, at the beginning of the third week of his jury trial in Yellowknife. When asked by his lawyer if he had fondled the boys he coached, Barry answered: "Never. Nothing like that ever happened." The prosecutor alleges Barry sexually abused four boys, then aged 16 to 18. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011. Barry testified that he was on good terms with his players and that they maintained contact with him and visited him after he stopped coaching them, and after the alleged sexual assaults occurred. His lawyer questioned him about a Facebook message exchange with one of his accusers years after the alleged incidents. Barry messaged the player to suggest he should get his passport and join a team Barry was coaching in Arizona. "I wouldn't mind playing for you one more time," the former player responded. Barry said he had no involvement in some of the events where the assaults allegedly occurred, including the Canada Games basketball tryouts in Yellowknife in 2009, where his accusers say Barry initiated sexual contact with them. Barry said he knew two of his former players were trying out for the team but had no contact with them. Barry said there is a grain of truth to some of the allegations levelled against him. He said he did play card games at his home with some of the players he coached, but said there was never any drinking during the games, as the players allege. He said one card game they played included dares where "once or twice" players or he would be required to take off clothing down to their underwear. "It wasn't sexual in any way," testified Barry. "It was just a dare, to be funny." Barry said, similarly, there was a grain of truth to some of the former players' allegations that he masturbated in front of them. Barry said two of the players who were staying with him and his wife in their home once walked into the bathroom as he was masturbating. "I said get out. He kind of saw what I was doing, because he was laughing." Barry said the other boy then poked his head in and mocked him. Barry is expected to face questioning by the prosecutor on Tuesday.
