Pembroke Today
03 December 2014 4:00:43 PM
Justice James Martin handed down the verdict Wednesday morning on the two charges against Father Dan Miller concerning alleged sexual assaults in the Deep River area in the 1970s.
Miller has already served time for a series of assaults against other boys but maintained his innocence in this case. The victim – who cannot be named as he was 12 or 13 at the time, said he was assaulted manually by Miller on at least three occasions.
The first time was at the rectory at Our Lady of Good Council in Deep River where the victim says he served on the youth council.
The second time was following a dance and occurred in Miller’s car.
The third incident was at Camp Mackey.
Miller testified during the two day trial that he never assaulted boys in his car or in the rectory – and had never done anything at Camp Mackey. He said he did not recall the boy or his family and said boys that young never served on the youth council.
Justice Martin said he found the victim’s testimony to be credible but questioned its reliability. He found it disturbing that the victim had no memory of the incidents for 40 years and it was only upon reading an article describing Miller’s earlier trial – that the memories came flooding back. That was despite the victim clearly recalling another sexual assault by his uncle during the same period – and writing an article on sexual abuse of boys. The victim had also returned to Camp Mackey in later years but still had no recollection of Miller’s alleged assault there.
Justice Martin said when there is a reasonable doubt about reliability of key evidence against the accused – he is entitled to a not guilty verdict.
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FATHER MILLER FOUND NOT GUILTY
Arnprior Today
03 November 2014 12:25:10 PM
Father Dan Miller has been found not guilty of indecent assault and Gross indecency this morning in Pembroke Court.
Justice James Martin handed down the verdict Wednesday morning on the two charges against Father Dan Miller concerning alleged sexual assaults in the Deep River area in the 1970s. Miller has already served time for a series of assaults against other boys but maintained his innocence in this case.
The victim – who cannot be named as he was 12 or 13 at the time, said he was assaulted by Miller on at least three occasions.
The first time was at the rectory at Our Lady of Good Council in Deep River where the victim says he served on the youth council.
The second time was following a dance and occurred in Miller’s car.
The third incident was at Camp Mackey.
Miller testified during the two day trial that he never assaulted boys in his car or in the rectory – and had never done anything at Camp Mackey. He said he did not recall the boy or his family and said boys that young never served on the youth council.
Justice Martin said he found the victim’s testimony to be credible but questioned its reliability. He found it disturbing that the victim had no memory of the incidents for 40 years and it was only upon reading an article describing Miller’s earlier trial – that the memories came flooding back. That was despite the victim clearly recalling another sexual assault by his uncle during the same period – and writing an article on sexual abuse of boys. The victim had also returned to Camp Mackey in later years but still had no recollection of Miller’s alleged assault there. Justice Martin said when there is a reasonable doubt about reliability of key evidence against the accused – he is entitled to a not guilty