Defence says no way to link accused to Facebook account

Defence begins case in sexual assault trial

There’s no way to tell if two Facebook accounts used to lure underage girls belong to the same man, or even if that’s the same man on trial in a Lethbridge courtroom.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Bill Wister, Crown witness Leigh Happner admitted there’s no way to tell if Trevor Phillip Pritchard, the accused, and Phillip Fieldcamper are the same person who used the popular social media site to lure young girls. In fact, there’s no way to prove the accused was in any way connected with the two Facebook accounts, making identification a key factor in the trial, Wister said afterward outside the courtroom.

Pritchard, 35, is on trial on charges of luring and sexual assault in relation to one girl, and luring against a second underage girl. During most of her testimony Tuesday and Wednesday, Happner, an officer with the Calgary Police Service and member of the Internet Child Exploitation unit, disclosed details of her investigation into the Facebook accounts belonging to Pritchard and Fieldcamper. That investigation revealed both accounts were used to lure the two underage girls, one of whom was only 14 when she began meeting Pritchard regularly in 2016 for sexual liaisons.

The girl testified earlier she met Pritchard after he asked her to be his friend on Facebook, and that she, like the other girl, communicated numerous times and shared photos through the social media site.

Both girls were identified while police were investigating Pritchard for another sexual assault against a young girl, for which he pleaded guilty in April, and admitted that on Jan. 17, 2017, the girl agreed to meet him, believing he would take her to a job interview. Pritchard took the girl to his home, however, and forced her to participate in various sexual acts. He drove her to her home afterward and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Although Pritchard pleaded guilty to sexual assault and child luring, he is expected to apply in February to have his guilty pleas struck to avoid being designated a dangerous offender. The Crown intends to apply to have Pritchard designated a dangerous offender, which can result in an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment if the accused is found guilty.

The Crown concluded its case Wednesday in Court of Queen’s Bench and Wister began his case by calling Pritchard’s father, Morley, to the stand.

The 70-year-old witness told court he regularly visited his son — who was diagnosed with brain damage at the age of 19 — and his girlfriend when they lived in Coaldale between September 2016 and January 2017, and was helping with renovations. And although he recognized photos on his son’s computer, and said he occasionally borrowed his cellphone, he was not aware his son had any Facebook accounts. He also testified he did not recognize the name Phillip Fieldcamper.

The trial continues today beginning with testimony from a witness who defence plans to qualify as a Facebook expert. The accused may testify, as well. Follow @DelonHerald on Twitter