The sexual assault trial of Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse commenced today in a Winnipeg provincial court. Traverse faces charges including sexual assault, sexual interference, and the creation and possession of child pornography, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The alleged victim, who was eight years old at the time of the incident in December 2023, provided testimony via a video statement played in court. In the statement, she recounted that Traverse took her to a bathroom in his Winnipeg home, where he allegedly took photographs of her and sexually assaulted her. The allegations came to light after the girl’s mother discovered one of the photographs on her daughter’s cellphone and reported it to the authorities.
Traverse was arrested on February 1, 2024, and has been out on bail since his arrest. Despite the charges, he has maintained his innocence and has stated that he does not intend to resign from his position as chief.
The trial is scheduled to continue over the next two days as the court hears further testimony and examines evidence related to the case.
Source : Swifteradio.com
