Trial of Eric Dejaeger, Former Oblate Priest, Resumes

CBC News
March 17, 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/trial-of-eric-dejaeger-former-oblate-priest-resumes-1.2575964

The trial of Eric Dejaeger, a former Oblate priest in Igloolik, Nunavut, is expected to wrap up this week in Iqaluit. This morning, the Crown prosecutor in the case made a special application to the judge seeking permission to cross-examine DeJaeger regarding his criminal record.

The trial of a former Oblate priest resumed this morning in Iqaluit.

Sixty-six-year-old Eric Dejaeger faces dozens of charges of alleged sexual abuse against children in Igloolik three decades ago.

A timeline of events in Nunavut abuse case involving Catholic priest

Today, Crown prosecutor Doug Curliss made an application before the court asking whether he can cross-examine Eric Dejaeger regarding his criminal record.

Curliss argued there are questions surrounding Dejaeger's character and morality and he wants to ask him about some of his testimony.

Dejaeger's lawyer Malcolm Kempt says the Crown's application should simply be denied.

He says the Crown has already asked leading questions of his client

And Kempt accused the Crown prosecutor of trying to come up with any reason to question Dejaeger.

In court, Dejaeger showed no emotion.

Justice Robert Kilpatrick has reserved his decision on the application until tomorrow.

Then the Crown is expected to make a second application: to re-visit the testimony of one of the complainants.

The trial is expected to conclude this week.