Sexual assault trial underway for Edmonton man accused of involving canine in intercourse acts

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Warning: this story incorporates disturbing particulars. 

A trial is underway for an Edmonton man accused of sexually assaulting his former intimate accomplice, together with allegedly involving canine in intercourse acts.

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Justin Skopyk, 39, pleaded not responsible in Edmonton Court docket of King’s Bench Monday to 2 counts of sexual assault. He initially confronted a four-count indictment that additionally included prices of compelling bestiality and distributing an intimate picture, which had been stayed by the Crown.

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The case is being heard by Justice Steven Mandziuk with out a jury.

In his opening tackle, prosecutor Mark Huyser-Wierenga alleged Skopyk on “many events” compelled intercourse on a lady with whom he was in a long-term relationship.

The girl — whose identification is roofed by a publication ban — testified she typically awoke to Skopyk having intercourse together with her. She additionally claimed he concerned two canine in opposition to her consent, together with when she was restrained and blindfolded.

Skopyk took the stand in his personal defence and denied all of the allegations.

Skopyk, who just isn’t in custody, sat beside his lawyer and sometimes took notes on his accuser’s testimony. At one level, court docket recessed after the girl complained he was making faces and smirking at her.

Mandziuk mentioned he didn’t see whether or not the accused was making faces however mentioned accused individuals should be capable to watch these giving testimony.

The girl — the Crown’s solely witness — accomplished her testimony Monday and spent a lot of Tuesday morning beneath cross-examination.

Defence lawyer Shawn Gerstel recommended the incidents with the canine didn’t happen and that the girl’s total intercourse life along with his shopper was consensual. The girl denied this and stood by her model of occasions.

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Gerstel additionally grilled the girl about textual content messages between herself and Skopyk which she provided to the Crown. The trade needed to do with Skopyk’s use of an grownup social networking web site. The 2 later made a profile as a pair.

Within the messages, the girl informed Skopyk the presence of her photos on the positioning made her “tremendous uncomfortable.” The girl despatched the messages to the Crown however, because the defence later discovered, didn’t embrace three messages the place Skopyk mentioned he had given the girl the login credentials and that she was free to take away them herself.

The girl mentioned she didn’t embrace these messages as a result of she didn’t know whether or not they had been related. Gerstel argued she didn’t embrace them as a result of they may assist his shopper.

Skopyk was nonetheless beneath cross-examination when court docket concluded Tuesday. The trial is scheduled for 5 days however will probably conclude earlier, Crown and defence each informed court docket.

The Crown stayed the bestiality cost as a result of the alleged conduct occurred previous to Parliament’s modification of Canada’s bestiality legal guidelines, which in 2019 had been broadened to incorporate any sexual contact between a human and an animal.

Skopyk is scheduled to be sentenced for possessing youngster porn in a separate case Oct. 10.

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