The witness who was supposed to testify at the Tony Humby trial did not appear for his cross-examination on Friday morning, leaving the witness stand empty. The proceedings were halted until the afternoon to allow the police to locate him. Despite finding the man, it was reported in court that he was too unwell to testify. Consequently, the trial ended early for the weekend with hopes for his return on Monday.
The man had begun his testimony the previous day, detailing instances of alleged sexual abuse by Humby that occurred between the ages of 12 and 19. He recounted an incident at Humby’s trailer during his 16th birthday party, where he claimed Humby sexually assaulted him after everyone else had left. Another incident described by the man involved him being heavily intoxicated at Humby’s residence, leading to a sexual assault in the bedroom while he was in a confused state.
During his testimony, the man stated that he did not consent to the alleged assaults when questioned by Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock. He also mentioned that his mother had encouraged him to report the abuse to the police years ago, but fear prevented him from doing so. Badcock noted the man’s frustration with the trial’s slow progress, which has been ongoing for several months. The man is the 10th complainant to testify out of a total of 11, as one complainant passed away before the trial.
The Crown is expected to request the inclusion of the 11th complainant’s police statements as evidence in the case. If you require immediate assistance or fear for your safety, please call 911. For additional support resources, you can access crisis lines and local services through the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database. Download the free CBC News app for push alerts and subscribe to the daily headlines newsletter for updates on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.