Hay River, N.W.T., man facing sex-related charges testifies at trial

Nadeer Hashmi · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 04, 2025 8:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

WARNING: This article may impact those who person experienced​ ​​​sexual unit oregon cognize idiosyncratic affected by it. 

A Hay River, N.W.T., antheral facing enactment charges testified successful his ain defence successful a Yellowknife courtroom connected Wednesday.

39-year-old Justin Minute has pleaded not blameworthy to kid luring, voyeurism and intersexual assault. The proceedings before N.W.T Supreme Court Justice Karin L.E Taylor was successful its 3rd day.

Minute told the tribunal that helium was "blown distant by the accusations" made against him by the complainant successful the case, and said helium didn't cognize what was down them.

Earlier this week, the complainant, who was underage astatine clip of the alleged incidents successful 2018 and 2019, testified that she saw Minute's telephone successful a bathroom, pointed astatine the shower. She said helium besides made intersexual jokes and touched her astir her waist inappropriately. Her individuality is protected by a work ban.

Minute told the tribunal connected Wednesday that helium erstwhile accidentally forgot his telephone successful a bathroom, past utilized his watch's camera fastener to spot wherever the telephone was. He said helium saw the ablution connected his watch, but nary 1 was there. He said helium ne'er spied connected the complainant.

The accusations archetypal came to light successful February 2020 to the Hay River RCMP. The tribunal heard that the constabulary didn't recover any of the alleged bath recordings connected Minute's telephone oregon watch.

Two of Minute's erstwhile partners besides testified this week. They some told the tribunal that Minute confessed to them that helium did each of the things he's accused of. 

Some substance messages and transcripts of telephone recordings from Minute to his erstwhile partners were besides work retired successful court. In one, Minute says helium "should beryllium successful jail," and successful different helium says, "I consciousness similar a atrocious idiosyncratic for the things I person done." 

In tribunal Wednesday, Minute said determination was a batch of miscommunication, and that helium ne'er confessed to immoderate of the allegations.

He agreed that immoderate of the messages seemed similar admissions of guilt, but helium claimed he was frustrated astatine the time, and emotionally overwhelmed by the shame of being accused. He said his words did not travel retired arsenic intelligibly arsenic helium intended astatine the clip and that helium had a hard clip articulating his thoughts.

 "[She] confused shame with guilt," Minute said, referring to 1 of his ex-partners.

In his transverse examination, Crown authoritative Morgan Fane said that a batch of Minute's grounds progressive him saying he was misinterpreted, while the grounds sounded similar a confession.

Minute told the court the charges person affected him professionally and personally. He said helium was employed arsenic a lawsuit idiosyncratic astatine the Hay River jail, and aft helium was charged he was reassigned.

Minute said the charges person besides affected his intelligence health, and that helium had attempted termination twice. 

Minute was the past witnesser to attest at the trial. Lawyers for some sides volition give their closing arguments Thursday.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, determination is enactment disposable done situation lines and section enactment services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you're successful contiguous information oregon fearfulness for your information oregon that of others astir you, delight telephone 911.