By Cam Fortems – Kamloops This Week
A witness testifying against his former Clearwater hockey coach testified Wednesday he coached his own children later in life so they would not fall victim themselves.
The man in his early 50s testified in the B.C. Supreme Court trial of Alan Davidson, who is charged with seven counts of indecent assault dating from the late 1970s and early ’80s. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in a number of neighbouring communities during sports and other trips.
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Like other victims who testified — whose identities are protected by a court-ordered publication ban — the witness said he did not tell anyone about what happened on a camping trip at Adams Lake until RCMP knocked on his door three years ago.
“Never, ever,” he told Crown prosecutor Alex Janse.
“I just spilled my guts to them. It kind of felt like a weight off my shoulders, I guess.”
The witness Wednesday was the fifth of seven complainants scheduled to testify.
About half were under the age — 14 years at the time — of consent when the incidents occurred.
He said Davidson was one of his hockey and baseball coaches and was well known in the community. He also served as an auxiliary Mountie. Later Davidson would become a full fledged member, serving in Saskatchewan. He is also charged with sexual offences from his time in Saskatchewan.
The witness, who was about 16 years at the time, said Davidson came along to a family camping trip, where friends were welcome. The pair drank and ended up in Davidson’s camper.
He said Davidson sexually touched him and the two engaged in sex.
“I was 16 years old and I was raped,” he told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Sheri Donegan, stopping to compose himself and dabbing at tears throughout his testimony.
Later in cross examination with defence lawyer John Gustafson, the witness agreed he was drunk and did not resist the sexual invitation. Davidson was in his early 20s at the time.
Consent is expected to be a legal issue in the trial with some of the alleged victims, as is Davidson’s status as an authority figure — a coach and auxiliary Mountie.
The witness said he felt ashamed after the episode. He also determined later in life he wouldn’t allow his children to be exposed to someone who would take advantage of them.
“In a positive way, it affected my parenting. I coached hockey and ball so I could protect my kids and their friends,” he said through tears.
A hearing is scheduled next week to determine whether a sworn statement Davidson gave to police in Alberta after he was arrested in 2014 will be admissible in the trial.
