The pastor who worked at West Island and Montreal churches on trial for sexually abusing boys is accusing his alleged victim of fabricating his story to get revenge on him.
Brian Boucher is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching involving a boy between 2008 and 2011 at a church in TMR.
Boucher presided over parishes in Dorval, Senneville, LaSalle and TMR between 1985 and 2015.
Boucher testified his relationship with the boy became strained after an incident at the church when the boy was in Sec. IV.
Day 5, trial of Brian Boucher who was pastor at churches in West Island/Mont, accused of sexually assaulting boys. Boucher testifies allegations were payback in case of vengeful boy grounded after Boucher told his parents about "immoral act" at church btwn boy &then-gf. #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/995dEUL9s3
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 23, 2018
Boucher said he was betrayed after finding out about what he called an "immoral act" at the church between the youth and his then-girlfriend who was invited to help work with the boy.
Boucher testified he told the youth's parents who then grounded him for several months until graduation.
Upon cross examination, the crown asked whether this was payback if the boy was mad at himself, his parents and Boucher and waited years to file a sexual assault complaint.
"That is what it looks like to me, yes," said Boucher.
When asked if a second alleged victim who testified was also fabricating his story, Boucher said he'd address that at his second trial in January but that the sexual abuse never happened.
The crown brought in the second alleged victim to show there is a pattern and to bolster the credibility of the first witness. The second boy testified Boucher sexually assaulted him between 1995 and 1998 when Boucher was pastor at a church in LaSalle.
Boucher continued to vehemently deny he sexually assaulted both boys during his cross examination as he did during the examination-in-chief yesterday.
Boucher is being tried before judge alone and represented by James Cocciardi and Mark Paci.
The crown prosecutor is Annabelle Sheppard.
Day 5, trial of Brian Boucher who was a pastor at churches in West Island/Montreal, accused of sexually assaulting boys. He is done testifying. Still vehemently denying he sexually assaulted the two alleged victims. Testified they are fabricating their stories. #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/OuUx1pi1OD
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 23, 2018