First Victim

Testifies At Inquiry

Victim Larry Seguin speaks with the media

following his testimony at the Cornwall

Public Inquiry yesterday.

(AM 1220 05 Oct. '06)

First child sex abuse claims heard at Cornwall inquiry

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 | 11:48 PM ET

A 35-year-old man was the first witness heard Wednesday at the inquiry investigating how child sex abuse claims were handled by police over several decades in Cornwall, Ont.

"I've been waiting for this day for so long now, and it being my birthday today, I'm kind of reborn," said Larry Seguin.

Seguin described a day in 1978 when he was six years old. He was approached by a man in a car who offered him a ride home, and despite declining, Seguin was pulled into the car and sexually assaulted.

Seguin told the inquiry he always felt as if the police didn't do enough to try to find the man who had assaulted him or alert the community, particularly after Seguin went to police a second time a year later after spotting the man's car and giving them a licence plate number.

Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that he was establishing the inquiry in 2005. Norman Glaude, an Ontario court judge since 1990, is the commissioner of the inquiry.

After several people came forward with claims of abuse over a period stretching back decades, the Children's Aid Society and the Ontario Provincial Police investigated.

Several charges were laid, but the only person to be convicted had his charges stayed because the matter had taken too long to go to trial.

Glaude said Tuesday that hearing from witnesses will allow the process of healing to begin in the community.

The inquiry will examine the response of the justice system and other public institutions to the allegations and hear from several witnesses.

The Cornwall police have maintained that the inquiry will establish there was no conspiracy to cover up any abuse claims.

Seguin said he was abused a second time in the fall of 1987 when he was 16 by Edward Desjardins, a friend of his brother.

Desjardins pleaded guilty to sexual assault with a weapon and possession of a dangerous weapon and sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation.

Seguin said he had difficulty coping with what happened to him, struggling with bouts of unemployment and turning to drugs and alcohol.

Lawyer Peter Manderville, speaking on behalf of the Cornwall police, said the lack of supporting evidence — required by law in 1978 — hindered investigation of the matter.

Seguin said he would like to see improvements within the justice system and police services regarding the inclusion of victims in the criminal court process as well as the opportunity for victims to speak with either a male or female police officer.

Seguin's mother and another sexual abuse victim are expected to take the stand on Thursday.

With files from the Canadian Press

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Cops didn't do enough: Seguin

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

Terri Saunders

Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 10:00

Front Page - The first victim called at the Cornwall Public Inquiry said he felt "reborn" after telling his story Wednesday of being sexually abused when he was a young boy.

"I've been waiting for this day for so long now and it being my birthday today, I'm kind of reborn," said Larry Seguin, who turned 35 Wednesday.

"It's going to put closure to a lot of things that happened to me."

Despite the fact the hearing room at the inquiry was filled with lawyers, other sexual abuse victims and members of the public as he was testifying, the drop of a pin would have been audible as Seguin recalled a day in 1978 when he was six years old.

He said he was running an errand for his mother when he was approached by a man in a car who asked him if he needed a ride home. When the young boy told the man he was close to home, Seguin said he remembered the man pulling him into the car and sexually assaulting him.

Seguin said he eventually freed himself from the situation and ran home to tell his mother who in turn called police.

Seguin told the inquiry Wednesday he always felt as if the police didn't do enough to try to find the man who had assaulted him, particularly after Seguin went to police a second time a year later after spotting the man's car.

Seguin said he once again approached an officer with the Cornwall Community Police Service but didn't get quite the response he was hoping he would receive.

"What he (the officer) had said was . . . he didn't say that the judge wouldn't believe me," said Seguin, "(but) he said something to do with . . . how the judge would take the response of a seven-year-old for a crime that happened a year ago, so they would not be laying any charges, but if the person bothered me again to give them (police) a call."

Seguin said he was abused a second time in the fall of 1987 when he was 16 years old. At that time, Seguin said he was sexually assaulted by Edward Desjardins, a friend of Seguin's brother. Desjardins eventually pleaded guilty to sexual assault with a weapon and possession of a dangerous weapon and sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation.

Seguin said as he grew older, the effects of the abuse became obvious. He turned to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with the abuse. He struggled to hold down a job and he even found himself finding it difficult to carry out his everyday tasks as a father.

"Changing my own child's diapers felt awkward because of what happened to me," he said.

In giving his testimony Wednesday, Seguin said he was mostly concerned with what he views as a lack of action on the part of police in relation to the first incident when he was six years old.

He said he wishes the police had issued some sort of community alert with the man's description in order to warn parents to keep watch for a predator in their midst.

Seguin said the second time he approached police about his unknown attacker, he gave them a license plate number.

To this day, that information remains fresh in his memory.

"I'm hoping maybe possibly I will be able to forget this number someday," he said Wednesday.

Seguin said he would like to see improvements within the justice system and police services regarding things such as the inclusion of victims in the criminal court process as well as the opportunity for victims to speak with either a male or female police officer, whichever would make them more comfortable.

Seguin said he felt satisfied with his testimony and hoped other victims would feel the same way after they take the stand in the coming weeks and months.

"I was a little nervous coming here today, but basically I'm glad I got to say what I had to say," he said. "Just me being here and being able to tell my side of the story feels pretty good."

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Relying on child's testimony alone nearly impossible prior to 1988

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

Terri Saunders

Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 10:00

Local News - Taking a criminal case to trial with just the evidence of a child to support the charges was not possible around the time a city man was sexually assaulted, the Cornwall Public Inquiry heard Wednesday.

Larry Seguin told the commission he was sexually assaulted on two separate occasions by two individuals - once in 1978 when he was six years old and again in 1987 when he was 16.

Seguin said he was not satisfied with the actions of police in relation to the earlier assault, as he felt they did nothing after hearing his story.

In cross-examining Seguin, the first victim to testify at the inquiry, a lawyer for the Cornwall Community Police Service pointed out the fact a visit to hospital following the first assault failed to secure any physical evidence, and he attempted to explain to the victim why there may have been a limited response to the allegations on the part of city police.

"The law in Canada in 1978, and indeed before 1988, required that the evidence of young children had to be supported or corroborated by other evidence - a witness; some form of physical evidence or forensic evidence - that assisted in showing that the child was telling the truth," said Peter Manderville. "Are you aware of that?" "No," replied Seguin.

"You're not aware of that today?" asked Manderville.

"I am now," replied Seguin.

"You certainly weren't aware of it back in 1978," said Manderville. "And, through no fault of your own, there was no witness."

"No," said Seguin.

The man agreed he also didn't know who the assailant was and he couldn't identify him.

Manderville said it was quite possible the officer who initially investigated the matter told Seguin's mother about the diminished chances any charges could be prosecuted or whether police could even locate the suspect.

He also suggested police had taken steps to keep in contact with Seguin following both incidents in order to offer him assistance in seeking counseling.

Manderville provided the commission with a series of documents which show there was internal communication within the city police force about Seguin's matter, including orders from both then-Chief Anthony Repa and then-Deputy Chief Ron Laverty in 2001 the allegations put forth by Seguin be fully investigated. It was later determined the man who had allegedly assaulted Seguin in 1978 had died in 1985.

Outside the hearings room following his testimony, Seguin said he wasn't convinced police officers did everything they could do at the time he reported the assaults.

"I don't buy it," he said.

The inquiry continues today when it's expected Seguin's mother will take the stand, followed by another sexual abuse victim.

Cornwall Public Inquiry; Seguin never the same after abuse

Terri Saunders

Friday, October 06, 2006 - 10:00

Local News - Juliette Seguin remembers the day her six-year-old son Larry told her something bad had happened to him.

On a cold February day in 1978, Larry came home after running an errand for his mother but instead of just handing over the items he'd purchased at the store, he delivered a shocking story.

"He came in and said a man took him," Seguin told the Cornwall Public Inquiry Thursday. "He said there was something like glue coming out of (the man's) mouth."

On Wednesday, Larry Seguin told the inquiry he was six years old when he was walking down the street and approached by a man in a car who asked him if he wanted a ride home. Larry said he told the man he didn't need a ride, but the man proceeded to pull him into the car and sexually assaulted him.

Juliette Seguin said Thursday although her son didn't specifically say he had been sexually abused, she knew what had happened. His behaviour following the disclosure of the abuse concerned her, in particular the fact he didn't want to be far from her side after the incident.

"He started talking baby talk," Seguin said. "Instead of calling me mom he was calling me mommy."

Seguin called the Cornwall Community Police Service and an officer came to her house.

Together they took Larry to the hospital.

After being examined by a physician, Seguin was told to take Larry home.

"The doctor said, 'Ignore him and it will go away,'" Seguin recalled. "He (Larry) continued to act that way for about a week or two."

Seguin said everyday her son would ask her if the police had called, and everyday she had to tell her son they hadn't.

"He wanted the police to do something," Seguin said. "But they didn't."

Seguin said she tried calling police three times but each time she said she got no indication from officers anyone was investigating the assault on her son.

"I got mad and said, 'I'm going to go look for him (the alleged abuser) myself,'" Seguin said Thursday. "They (police) said, 'If you find the car (belonging to the abuser), don't do anything,' and to call them."

A year after the incident, Larry once again came home and told his mother he saw the man going into a house across the street from the Seguin's family home.

"I called the police and an officer came to my house," Seguin said. "He told my son that if the man came near him again or bothered him to call him (the officer.)"

Seguin believes it is this perceived lack of response on the part of the Cornwall Community Police Service which has contributed to her son's difficulties in life.

Larry told the inquiry Wednesday he felt different after the assault and had trouble relating to kids his own age. He said he turned to drugs and alcohol as he grew older in order to "erase" what happened from his mind and "get ride of the pain."

Following her testimony Thursday, Seguin said she is hopeful her son can begin to put the past behind him and stay on the straight and narrow.

"I think it helped him to come here," said Seguin, referring to her son's appearance before the commission. "It's important for him to know people do care about what happened to him because for most of his life he's felt as if no one cared.

"I think he feels good about things now."