FORMER P.E.I. TEACHER ON TRIAL FOR SEXUAL ABUSE.

Trail for former P.E.I. high school teacher gets underway in provincial court

The trial of a former Colonel Gray High School music teacher, who is charged with a total of eight sex-related offences, got underway here on Monday in P.E.I. provincial court. Roger James Jabbour, 65, is charged with three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference and two counts of sexual exploitation involving three girls. The first complainant, now 21, told the court that she was 15 and a Grade 10 student when she met Jabbour and enrolled in the school’s band program. She was a member of the concert, jazz and rhythm and blues bands. She said that in November or December, things started to change. The complainant said that Jabbour would email her at nights to discuss his personal life and how the class was going in terms of other students. The two would also discuss Jabbour’s desire to get a divorce. She told the court her role was similar to that of a “confidant.” The relationship evolved into back rubs, holding hands, full hugs and kissing her hands, cheeks, head and face, but never full on the lips, she told the court. Then, she said, for about once a week for six weeks, the two would go in the school’s practice room after school hours, where Jabbour would pull her onto his lap with her straddling his legs and kiss her. She testified that she could feel his erect penis underneath her. When she turned 16 toward the end of the school year, she said she reached a breaking point and ended the relationship. She then quit the band program. She testified that Jabbour said he loved her and that she could have stopped the sexual relations at any point. But she said she didn’t feel she could because of his position of power. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Jabbour’s lawyer, Joel Pink, questioned the complainant on her testimony and statement to police, including her recollection of the positioning of the former teacher’s desk in his office and blinds on the windows. He also questioned her about her contact with the two other complainants and how she encouraged them to come forward. She said she didn’t share information about her experiences in detail, but did say she discussed Jabbour’s personal life and marriage with one complainant and that there was sexual abuse between her and the former teacher. Pink noted that the complainant attended Jabbour’s son’s birthday party in May after the relations ended. The trial is scheduled for five days this week. A second trial involving another female complainant involving allegations from the 1990s is scheduled for September. Justice John Douglas is presiding over the trial. A publication ban is in place preventing the publication of the complaint’s identity.