Accused argue two girls aren’t credible

Three Saskatoon men accused of confining and hitting two girls in an SUV as they searched for money say the witnesses aren’t credible.

Closing arguments were made on Friday at the trial of Christopher Cathcart, Robert Caissie and Gary Cote. They pleaded not guilty to unlawful confinement and robbery, stemming from an incident on Sept. 4, 2016. Cathcart and Cote are representing themselves in court.

The two girls, who are cousins, said a man told them to get inside the SUV after they had stopped to use the bathroom at a house party. They had been driving around with Cathcart earlier that night, the girls testified.

Court heard one man repeatedly accused the girls of taking money and hit them when they disagreed. He made them remove their bras to ensure they weren’t hiding anything. Crown prosecutor Cory Bliss said this was corroborated when police found a bra in the SUV.

Police stopped the vehicle just outside the city. Cruiser video shows one of the alleged victims running toward police while waving her hands in the air. An officer testified she was hysterical and that her cousin had a black eye.

Cathcart argued there were no injuries to the woman’s face in any of the videos. He said both girls admitted they had snuck out that night and were afraid of getting into trouble. Cathcart also told the judge that he counted more than 40 inconsistencies in their statements and testimonies.

Caissie’s defence lawyer, Erin Little, argued that the girls had an opportunity to collude when they were placed together in the back of the police car.

Justice Ronald Mills reserved his decision until next month.