Former ski coach ‘very controlling,’ alleged victim says
SAINT-JÉRÔME, Que. — The first witness at Bertrand Charest’s sex assault trial testified Thursday that the former national ski coach began kissing her and touching her breasts in 1997, when she was 17.
The woman said she met Charest over the next few months for sexual encounters in locations that included hotel rooms, a van, a physio table, an airplane and Charest’s house. The alleged crimes took place in France, Austria and Mont-Tremblant, Que.
Charest is facing 57 charges, including sexual assault and breach of trust. His 12 alleged victims were between the ages of 12 and 19 at the time.
The witness described Charest as a “very controlling” coach who managed his students’ careers “from A to Z” and had influence over what she ate, where she stayed and where she attended school.
She said she felt the relationship was “abnormal” even though she believed at first she was in love with Charest, who is now 51.
“He laughed at me, he brought my self-esteem as low as possible only to build it up a little bit with small compliments,” she said.
The woman testified that many of the alleged incidents occurred during competitions and training camps, when coaches and students stayed in the same hotels.
About two dozen Crown witnesses are expected to testify.
Charest, who worked with Alpine Canada’s women’s development team between 1996 and 1998, has been in custody since his arrest in March 2015.
The allegations date back to the 1990s and also involve other locations such as Whistler, New Zealand and the United States.
The trial resumes today. It is expected to last about a month.