Ex-officer acquitted of sex charges

Testimony ‘unreliable’ in abuse case against Calgary man, judge rules

A judge has acquitted retired Calgary police officer Stephen Laurence Huggett of two charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl in the 1990s.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice James Langston said on Friday he found the evidence of the girl’s mother “unreliable” and other evidence didn’t support that of the complainant, now in her late 20s.

In particular, he said key issues arose over contradictions of whether Huggett was circumcised — the complainant and her mother insisted he was, Huggett and his family doctor, who examined him mid-trial, said no and were proven to be right.

Another key issue was the use of different colours of ink on the dates of the girl’s diary notes, which led to concerns over evidence possibly being fabricated.

“The testimony of the complainant and her mother can’t be believed,” Langston said. “It’s not whether one story sounds better, the accused is presumed to be innocent. It’s not enough to say the accused is probably guilty.”

“It’s believed (they) saw the accused in the nude over several years while in close ... there were frequent situations to see (Hug- gett) exposed in non-intimate situations. I’m not saying these errors are deliberate fabrications, although it was to validate the complainant’s evidence.”

Huggett, 61, who retired in 2006 after 25 years with Calgary Police Service, had pleaded not guilty to both sexual assault and sexual interference.

He denied that he showered with the girl and washed her entire body, including genitals, gave her wine and rubbed her inner thigh afterwards, performed gymnastics with her on his bed often while naked and walked around the home nude while the girl was present.

“The way the judge relied on the testimony and the diary that was admitted — an incomplete diary, pages were missing, different colours of ink as the judge said — the reliability of that corrobora- tive evidence that supported (the complainant’s) evidence was lacking,” said Defence lawyer Alain Hepner.

Several key discrepancies between the girl’s testimony and that of her mother arose during the trial, including whether the showering allegations took place at Huggett’s downtown apartment, where the mother said it occurred, or at his southeast home, where the girl said it happened.

Hepner says his client now has to go out and live his life and try to put it behind him now that both criminal charges are gone.

“He’s feeling much better today — just now — and relieved, but it takes time for it to sink in that it’s over,” said Hepner.

Huggett did not display any obvious emotions when the judge acquitted him or afterwards when he was outside court.

The girl’s mother abruptly departed court following the judge’s decision.

Crown prosecutor Jenny Rees did not make any comments outside court after the ruling.