Four obtain right to be identified as abuse victims

MONTREAL • Four more women who were assaulted or allegedly assaulted by exnational ski coach Bertrand Charest when they were younger obtained the right on Tuesday to be identified by name.

A Quebec Superior Court justice agreed to the request by former skiers Emilie Cousineau, Katie Bertram, Allison Forsyth and Gillian McFetridge.

Charest, 53, was convicted last June of sexually assaulting Cousineau, who said in her sworn statement she was 16 when the abuse began in 1996.

In the case of the three other women, he was either acquitted of the charges or had them tossed out by the court because of jurisdictional issues.

McFetridge wrote Charest’s actions when he was her coach in 1996 and 1997 “had a destructive effect on my physical and psychological health.”

Forsyth alleged in her statement that Charest sexually abused her in 1997 and 1998 and that she fought anxiety and depression in later years.

“I have lived and still live with feelings of shame,” she said in her statement.

Bertram, who was coached by Charest from 1996 to 1998, echoed the others in saying it is important for her to speak publicly in order to raise awareness in society of the importance of safety in sports.

Their identities were made public a day after Geneviève Simard, Gail Kelly, Amélie-Frédérique Gagnon and Anna Prchal told a news conference about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Charest when they were adolescents and he was their coach.

Charest was found guilty last June of 37 of the 57 sexrelated charges he was facing, and was eventually given a 12-year prison term.

The convictions involved nine of the 12 women who’d accused him of crimes that occurred more than 20 years ago, when the victims and alleged victims were between the ages of 12 and 19.

Charest is appealing both his conviction and the sentence and was denied bail by the appellate court.