Former Saskatoon Christian college director discovered responsible of assaulting college students with a weapon

The former director of a Saskatoon non-public 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 varsity was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy.

Choose Lisa Watson outlined her reasoning in a prolonged resolution Monday afternoon in provincial courtroom. Watson stated the Crown proved and not using a affordable doubt that Olubobokun assaulted the complainants.

She gave detailed accounts of every sufferer’s proof. Former college students stated they had been typically accused of misbehaviour, known as into the director’s workplace, advised 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 stated the paddle broke whereas they had been being struck.

Feelings ran excessive within the courtroom Monday. Former college students and supporters set free loud sighs of aid when the responsible choices had been introduced, then sobbed and held one another as they walked out of the courtroom.

“To have the justice programs say this wasn’t OK, that is very validating and therapeutic for everyone,” stated 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 stated it is a win for all former college students of the college, not simply those that testified.

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 aren’t any images 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.

There was dialogue throughout closing arguments about Part 43 of the Felony Code, which reads, “Each schoolteacher, mother or father or individual standing within the place of a mother or father is justified in utilizing pressure by means of correction towards a pupil or little one, because the case could also be, who’s underneath his care, if the pressure doesn’t exceed what is affordable underneath the circumstances.”

In 2004, a Supreme Courtroom of Canada ruling narrowed the scope of the part, together with by saying an object can’t be used. It outlined “affordable” pressure as that which might have a “transitory and trifling” influence on the kid.

Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo beforehand argued that by advantage of the allegations, “with the implement getting used,” there was no defence underneath Part 43.

She stated it was vital for the courtroom to listen to concerning the “distinctive scenario” of how the college was run and interconnected with the church, and the implications college students and their total households would face for talking out. The varsity and the church are in the identical constructing.

“These had been those that had been on the church nearly every day — on the college, on the church, at this constructing, nearly every day,” Fillo stated throughout her closing argument.

A sentencing date for Olubobokun has not been set.