Guilty of sex charges

Leonard Green found guilty of attempted rape, indecent assault

A P.E.I. judge has found a Calgary man guilty of two sex offences dating back 46 years. Leonard Green, 66, wasn’t in provincial court in Charlottetown Thursday where Judge John Douglas delivered the verdict.

Green pleaded not guilty and went to trial on one count of attempted rape and one count of indecent assault from 1971.

In finding Green guilty, Douglas said the victim’s description of what happened was very specific.

Green was living in P.E.I. at the time of the offences, but has since moved to Calgary where he is retired.

The victim was nine years old at the time.

During the June 7 trial, Douglas heard testimony from Green and the victim.

Green denied the allegations. In his submissions, defence lawyer Thane MacEachern, said it was difficult for anyone to look back so many years and remember specific details. MacEachern said the level of detail from the victim required a “hard, critical look.” Douglas said what Green remembered was also in great detail at times.

There were consistencies in some of the testimony from both witnesses, Douglas said. Crown attorney, Lisa Goulden, said where there were inconsistencies the victim’s testimony should prevail. The victim’s memory from when she was nine years old was vivid and she was “quite detailed” in her recollections of the sexual assault, Goulden said.

Goulden also said the court could consider the absence of a reason to fabricate allegations against Green.

Douglas said there was no evidence the victim had bad feelings toward Green or anything that would suggest a reason to make up the allegations.

Green’s case will be back before Douglas on Oct. 19 to set a date for sentencing.