Father tells jury it was his duty to protect daughter from COVID-19 vaccine

Michael Gordon Jackson acknowledged some people might view what he did — taking his thenseven-year-old daughter on the run across Western Canada — as being “extreme.”

But Monday he told the jury that will decide the outcome of his trial, being held in Regina's Court of King's Bench, that it was his duty to protect the girl from being vaccinated for COVID-19. He said he feels he did what any good parent would do, if they thought their child could come to harm.

“Because I'm the only one in the country that did something that stood out doesn't mean I'm wrong, in my view. It means that I'm right,” he said.

Monday afternoon, Crown prosecutor Zoey Kim-zeggelaar sought to clarify a few things with the accused man, who testified in his own defence.

“Would you agree, if you're the only person in the country who's done something like this, it is the extreme position?”

No, he replied. Not at all. Jackson, 55, stands accused of what amounts to abduction in contravention of a custody order. The charge is dated between Dec. 6, 2021, and Jan. 21, 2022. He pleaded not guilty when the trial began April 8.

Court previously heard from witness Kurt Jedel, a former friend of Jackson's, who said the accused man occasionally talked about taking his daughter away, before his disappearance. Jedel told court one of the locations discussed was B.C.

Jackson was arrested in Vernon on Feb. 24, 2022.

Kim-zeggelaar put it to Jackson that he'd spoken with Jedel about how he'd take the child “off to B.C. because you were the better parent.”

“No, I did not,” Jackson said. He clarified that he'd talked with many friends about his desire to live in B.C., and that the idea includes living a self-sufficient life “off the grid,” to give his daughter a “really good childhood.”

Jackson and Jedel disagree about why their friendship broke down. Jedel testified it was because he didn't want to be involved with Jackson after he received calls from police. Jackson told court he'd lost trust in Jedel, who got vaccinated for COVID-19 after saying he wouldn't.

“Someone keeping their word is important to you,” the prosecutor said to Jackson on Monday.

“It represents character, right?” the accused man replied.

The prosecutor said to Jackson that he hadn't kept his word when he'd agreed to return the child to her mother on Nov. 15, 2021, at the end of his arranged parenting time.

“Yes, you're right,” Jackson replied.

Court previously heard he'd initially told his ex-wife he wouldn't return the child to her unless she gave him a letter stating her position on vaccinating the girl. While she was required to consult Jackson, the mother had final decision-making power with regard to health issues for the child.

“You'd agree that later on you changed your mind on that, as well?” Kim-zeggelaar asked.

Yes, Jackson acknowledged. While his ex-wife eventually signed an affidavit swearing she wouldn't have the child vaccinated, he did not return the girl as a result.

Jackson maintained he fled to keep the girl from being vaccinated, not simply to keep her from her mother.

He also acknowledged it was possible he'd told police he'd turn himself in if a family court proceeding in early December 2021 didn't go his way. He agreed he hadn't done that, either.

Jackson had previously told the jury he didn't feel he had time to work with the courts to resolve the issue before he fled with the girl.

He agreed with the prosecutor that his divorce was bitter, and he was unsatisfied with family court outcomes, but said he expected a “more just” result on appeal.

Kim-zeggelaar asked him to read a few lines he'd written when he was engaged in negotiations with police over the return of the child, before his arrest.

“The courts are so incredibly corrupt,” Jackson read.

During those negotiations, a message Jackson had sent to police characterized a “requirement” that the girl not be vaccinated as having come from the child herself.

Jackson said he believed it was his daughter's choice to decide.

He agreed with the prosecutor that he was prepared to withhold the child until he was absolutely guaranteed she would never be vaccinated.

“Even though it would've been her choice, correct?” the prosecutor asked.

“Again, the government doesn't allow her to make that choice at that age,” Jackson responded.

Closing arguments in the case are expected Thursday.