CANADA
CTV
Joanne Schnurr, CTV Ottawa
Published Tuesday, May 2, 2017
An Ottawa courtroom erupted in applause today after a Catholic priest was found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young boy. Reverend Stephen Amesse said he had forgiven the victim.
The victim’s family, however, left the court house in tears. It’s has been nearly three years since police began their investigation after an allegation that a 14-year-old boy had been sexually assaulted in a west end Ottawa church. Three long years for both the priest and the victim but only one of them left the courthouse feeling justice had been done.
Surrounded by his supporters, Stephen Amesse walked out of court a free man.
“I feel very good, of course,” Amesse told CTV News outside of court, “but I do want people to know I have forgiven my accuser and his family and I’ve asked my folks to pray for them, that they find peace. And I’m looking forward to going back to ministry.”
Amesse was suspended from the ministry and his work at St. Patrick Church in Fallowfield after he was charged in 2014 with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference. The charges dated back to 2008 and involved a 14-year-old boy.
But today, Justice Martin James said there were too many inconsistencies to convict Amesse.
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