MacIntosh sex abuse trial concludes

Ernest Fenwick MacIntosh's sex abuse trial concluded in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., Friday, with the judge hearing his case tasked with deciding whom to believe.

Both Crown and defence summations focused on how old the boys were when sexual relations occurred.

The three complainants testified MacIntosh, 67, abused them in the early 1970s when they were between nine and 12 years old.

MacIntosh told the court he had sex with two of the men, but that it was the late 1970s and they were 16 or older at the time.

MacIntosh, a former businessman, is facing 26 charges in this trial before Supreme Court judge Simon MacDonald. A further 13 charges from three different accusers await MacIntosh.

After his summation, defence lawyer Brian Casey told reporters why he decided MacIntosh should testify in his own defence.

Time frame critical

"I think from the records, we could probably have established the sex did not take place in the time frame of the charges in any event," he said Friday.

"But it is still appropriate, I think, that the court understand that there was a sexual relationship later in some cases. And that allows the court to understand why the witnesses may have made the complaint, even if it didn't happen within the dates set out in the charges."

Prosecutor Diane McGrath said the evidence, including some of MacIntosh's own testimony, supported the earlier dates for the sexual relations.

She said the three complainants provided enough detail to make their version of events credible.

Justice Simon MacDonald said he will have his verdict ready by July 20.