Third sex trial of former Nunavut teacher ends

The third trial of former Nunavut teacher and convicted sex offender Ed Horne ended Friday, as lawyers made their closing arguments in an Iqaluit courtroom.

Justice Robert Kilpatrick chose not to deliver a judgment right away in the judge-only trial, saying he needs more time to think it over. He is expectedto set a date for his decision on March 3.

The 64-year-old Horne, who taught in eastern Arctic communities in the 1970s and 1980s, faces a third round of charges from complaints four former students filed in 2001. He pleaded guilty to a total of 28 similar charges in 1987 and 2000.

The four men, now in their 30s and 40s, allege that Horne sexually abused them when they attended schools where he had taught. Their names cannot be published under a court-ordered publication ban.

In his closing arguments, defence lawyer Tom Boyd said the Crown's case left plenty of room for reasonable doubt. Horne had confessed to the other crimes before, and was credible in denying the latest round of allegations, Boyd told the court.

Boyd said he wondered why the Crown failed to call other witnesses, given some of the alleged abuse was said to have taken place in front of other students.

All four complainants alleged Horne committed or attempted buggery. However, Boyd said that of all of Horne's previous convictions, there was only one count of buggery.

Money may be a motive, defence lawyer suggests

Boyd suggested that the complainants made buggery allegations against Horne because they knew they could get more compensation money for more severe sexual abuse cases.

When he cross-examined the witnesses in October, Boyd had asked them why they did not press charges against Horne until many years later, upon hearing of other victims receiving compensation.

In her closing arguments, Crown prosecutor Judy Chan said at least two of the men had tried to report the events when they were children, but were told to keep quiet.

The men gave emotional, sometimes tearful testimony at trial, telling the court that they wanted to heal and money was not on their minds, she said.

Chan also questioned Horne's truthfulness under cross-examination Thursday, suggesting that Horne was a sophisticated criminal who was "playing with the justice system."

While on the stand Thursday, Horne admitted he had committed some "shocking and terrible crimes" against children, and had been very secretive about them.The events alleged by the four men were more public and would have caused a commotion, Horne testified.

But during the cross-examination, Chan suggested that as a teacher and principal, Horne had enough control of the schools where he had worked to have his way with students. Chan also presented evidence that Horne had spent one or two nights a week in a Cape Dorset school gym with his students after class.

Horne was released on an undertaking on Friday. He will return to his home in Toronto, where he presently works as a bicycle courier. He must report regularly to police there.