Gordon Watson (Elder) stands trial Nov. 5 and 7 for Sexual Assault

by Gerard 20 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

  • Special K
    Special K

    Well that guy is one really sick puppy.

    special k

  • sf
    sf
    Because of the court's schedule being full, the trial will resume around December 7th, hopefully concluding by December 11th.

    D-Day is just around the corner.

    Wonder if Gordy knows Walt? And/ or visa versa?

    hmmmmmmm

    sKally

  • hawkaw
    hawkaw

    Question .... is this guy still an elder or has he stepped down while this trial has been going on?

    hawk

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    hawk from the info I have he is still an elder in good standing. The daughter of the victim apparently lives across the street from the KH and sees him coming in and leaving and being welcomed by the other JWs

  • Gerard
    Gerard
    hawk from the info I have he is still an elder in good standing. The daughter of the victim apparently lives across the street from the KH and sees him coming in and leaving and being welcomed by the other JWs.

    Unfreakingbelievable!

  • Abaddon
    Abaddon

    As much as we are predisposed to believe the worst of JW's or are rightfully concerned about issues of sexual assault especially by persons in a postion of trust, there is that old innocent until presumed proven guilty in a court of law thing.

    This guy might be scum. He might be innocent. Elder does not equal guilty. Let justice be done.

    Let's not get all worked up and then find him declared innocent. If we do that we give ammunition to dubs who say "postates tack jehobers purple without cause".

  • Nosferatu
    Nosferatu
    "postates tack jehobers purple without cause".

    What? Purple? That was about the only thing I understood.

    I'm quite interested in this whole thing since it's so close to home.

  • Gerard
    Gerard
    He might be innocent.

    Yes. He definitevely qualifies for the Watchtower's Protection Program.

  • Abaddon
    Abaddon

    Sorry Gerard, did you miss the point entirely, or do you find presumption of guilt a good basis for a judicial system?

    This is not some unique concept I have whipped out of my ear, it's the way the justice system of the USA, Canada and the UK works (the magisterial system of the Continent now in practice lacks the more unfortunate presumptive aspects of Napoleonic Law (so it says on te back of my Cherrios

  • Gerard
    Gerard

    http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=mb_acquittal20031211

    Brandon man acquitted in sex assault case
    WINNIPEG - Problems with a police photo lineup helped acquit a Brandon man of sexual assault Wednesday night.

    Gordon Watson was acquitted of assaulting a 76-year-old patient at the Assiniboine Health Centre in August 2002.

    In her ruling, Justice Krystina Tarwid said she had suspicions about Watson's involvement, but that wasn't enough to satisfy her beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Crown attorney Garry Rainnie says problems with the photographic evidence he presented contributed to the acquittal.

    "The crux of this case, really, was the identification evidence and weaknesses in the identification evidence," he says. "At the end of the day, the judge felt she wasn't satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the identification evidence was sufficient enought to result in a conviction."

    The judge also expressed concerns about the photo lineup that had been presented to the victim. The suspect's picture had a much lighter background that distinguished his photo from the seven others.

    The victim was able to identify Mr. Watson in the photo lineup, but unable to point him out in court. (????)

    The Crown has no plans to appeal the acquittal.

    http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2003/12/12/284632.html

    Fri, December 12, 2003
    Elder cleared of fondling By CP
    BRANDON, Man. -- Gordon Watson has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting an elderly hospital patient after a judge ruled a photo lineup used to identify Watson unfairly highlighted him as a suspect. The 42-year-old former Jehovah's Witness elder broke down in tears and embraced family members following Judge Krystyna Tarwid's decision on Wednesday.

    "As you can see, I am very relieved this is over," Watson said outside court after the decision. "I want to get on with my life. The past year and a half has been terrible for our family. Our life has been ruined here. Our home used to be in Brandon but is no longer here because we were kicked out of the city, because of the media, unfortunately."

    ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

    Watson was accused of sexually assaulting a 76-year-old woman as she was lying in her hospital bed at the Assiniboine Health Centre on Aug. 3, 2002.

    The woman said a man walked into her room, identified himself as a doctor and proceeded to open her housecoat and kiss her breasts.

    The woman, who described her attacker as well groomed and nattily attired, later picked Watson's photo from a police photo lineup including seven other pictures.

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