The former director of a Saskatoon personal Christian college has been discovered responsible on 9 counts of assault with a weapon.
John Olubobokun was accused of utilizing a wood paddle to hit college students when he was the director at Christian Centre Academy for 4 years beginning in 2003. The college was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy.
Choose Lisa Watson outlined her reasoning in a prolonged determination Monday afternoon in provincial courtroom. Watson mentioned the Crown proved and not using a cheap doubt that Olubobokun assaulted the complainants.
She gave detailed accounts of every sufferer’s proof. Former college students mentioned they had been usually accused of misbehaviour, known as into the director’s workplace, informed to bend over a desk or chair, and struck a number of instances with a wood paddle. Some college students testified they had been left bruised. One mentioned the paddle broke whereas they had been being struck.
Feelings ran excessive within the courtroom Monday. Former college students and supporters let loose loud sighs of reduction when the responsible choices had been introduced, then sobbed and held one another as they walked out of the courtroom.
“To have the justice methods say this wasn’t OK, that is very validating and therapeutic for everyone,” mentioned Caitlin Erickson, a former pupil on the college.
“Very emotional … it has been a really very long time for us to attend to have our day in courtroom and for justice to play out lastly.”
Erickson mentioned it is a win for all former college students of the college, not simply those that testified.
WATCH | Former Saskatoon Christian college director discovered responsible of assaulting college students:
Former Saskatoon Christian college director discovered responsible of assaulting college students
A Saskatoon decide has discovered John Olubobokun, former director at Christian Centre Academy in Saskatoon, responsible on all 9 counts of assault with a weapon. Former college students say they had been struck with a paddle whereas attending the college.
The trial started in June 2024 with testimony from 9 college students and different Crown witnesses, then continued in March with defence witnesses.
Throughout closing arguments, defence lawyer Ron Piché questioned why the scholars did not go to their mother and father or police on the time of the alleged paddlings and why there are not any pictures of bruising.
He additionally pointed to a separate civil case, a $25-million class motion lawsuit, which has been dismissed, suggesting the complainants had monetary motives.
From proper to left, Caitlin Erickson, Coy Nolin, Jennifer Beaudry and Mark Drapak are all former college students of Christian Centre Academy, now known as Valour Academy, in Saskatoon. They had been all in courtroom Monday to see the college’s former director discovered responsible of assaulting college students with a weapon. (Aishwarya Dudha/CBC)
There was dialogue throughout closing arguments about Part 43 of the Legal Code, which reads, “Each schoolteacher, father or mother or particular person standing within the place of a father or mother is justified in utilizing pressure by the use of correction towards a pupil or baby, because the case could also be, who’s below his care, if the pressure doesn’t exceed what is cheap below the circumstances.”
In 2004, a Supreme Court docket of Canada ruling narrowed the scope of the part, together with by saying an object can’t be used. It outlined “cheap” pressure as that which might have a “transitory and trifling” affect on the kid.
Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo beforehand argued that by advantage of the allegations, “with the implement getting used,” there was no defence below Part 43.
She mentioned it was necessary for the courtroom to listen to in regards to the “distinctive scenario” of how the college was run and interconnected with the church, and the results college students and their whole households would face for talking out. The college and the church are in the identical constructing.
“These had been those that had been on the church virtually day by day — on the college, on the church, at this constructing, virtually day by day,” Fillo mentioned throughout her closing argument.
A sentencing date for Olubobokun has not been set.
