Father testifies at Stephenville teen’s sexual assault trial

The court case of a teenager in Stephenville charged with sexual assault continued in provincial court Stephenville on Thursday with testimony from some family members of the accused.

Crown prosecutor Susan Gallant asked the teenager’s father numerous questions about the family’s vehicles.

She also asked him if he was aware his son had a Snapchat account and other social media accounts, to which he replied he was.

When another relative of the accused was called to the stand, Gallant questioned whether that person’s testimony would qualify as alibi evidence.

Defence lawyer Mark Mills said he didn’t think it would.

Judge Lynn E. Cole took a recess to decide on that matter.

This is the first of three trials on sexual assault allegations against the Stephenville teenager, who was a student at Stephenville High School, which all three of his alleged victims also attended.

The allegations rocked the school earlier in the school year, and students there urged the province to update its safety policies, because the student remained in the school for some time after the charges were laid.

The teenager, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Much of the testimony on Thursday involved specific family details that could lead to the identity of the teenager, and as such cannot be reported.

Charges in the case include sexual assault, forcible confinement and using “a stupefying or overpowering drug” to help commit sexual assault.

The alleged attack took place last October at Indian Head Park in Stephenville.

The trial is expected to resume next week, with closing arguments at a later date.

The accused is facing two other trials relating to sexual assaults, set for later this month and on Aug. 2 in Stephenville.