Bikers rally for teens during sex-assault proceedings

Bikers crowded an Edmonton courtroom Tuesday in support of six teenage victims in a sex-assault case at West Edmonton Mall’s water park.

Lawyers made closing arguments in the provincial court trial for Soleiman Hajj Soleiman, who is charged with six counts of sexual assault and six counts of sexual contact with a child.

Soleiman was arrested in February 2017 after several teenagers reported being touched by a man in the wave pool.

A verdict in the case is expected July 6.

When the trial began earlier this year, court heard testimony from some of the teen complainants, who were ages 13 to 15 at the time.

On the evening of Feb. 4, 2017, 16 girls from a soccer team were attending a birthday party at the pool, court heard. One of the complainants, then 14, testified she was in the wave pool when she heard other girls saying someone was touching them. She told court that as a wave hit, a man swam up under her and touched her breast and buttocks.

The identities of the teenage victims are protected by a courtordered publication ban.

Two of the girls were in court Tuesday, surrounded by their family. Behind them, courtroom benches were packed with bikers who belong to two separate groups — Urban Bulldogs Against Kids’ Abuse and Guardians of Children — who came to offer support to the complainants.

Supporters of Soleiman also attended court Tuesday.