A vulnerable young person who was allegedly sexually exploited by a basketball coach at Saint Laurent High School took the witness stand Tuesday to recount the crimes she allegedly suffered.
Standing tall and with her head held high, the young woman took an oath to tell the whole truth this Tuesday in the Montreal courthouse, just a few meters away from Daniel Lacasse.
Lacasse, 44, was back in court to undergo his preliminary examination for sexual contact he allegedly committed with a minor between 2010 and 2012 while leading the school’s women’s basketball program. Saint Laurent Secondary School.
By order of the court, it is forbidden to identify the victim, who was in need of protection at the time. A publication ban also prevents reporting on the content of the testimony presented before Judge Suzanne Costom at this stage of the proceedings.
However, we can emphasize that Lacasse, accompanied by a woman, listens carefully to the statements of Mr. Jérôme Laflamme of the Crown.
Daniel Lacasse: Photo courtesy
Lacasse has been suspended without pay from the Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Service Center since his arrest on sexual exploitation charges in February 2022. Two other school basketball coaches were also handcuffed. Charles-Xavier Boislard and Robert Luu will undergo their respective trials at a later date.
Harmful climate
Without waiting for the legal outcome of these three cases, the Ministry of Education opened an investigation following the arrest of the trio in February 2022.
The results revealed a toxic climate among that school’s basketball players with inappropriate behavior that no one reported.
The document obtained by the Quebec Investigation Bureau also noted that reports often went unheeded due to a lack of communication between those involved.
“A trainer may therefore collect reports of unacceptable behavior […] without being the subject of a special examination,” emphasized the ministry.
One of the ministry’s recommendations was to better equip school service centers and associations to change cultures and better protect young people.
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