Sexual assault trial halted after Manitoba chief attacked outside courthouse
2 people arrested after Christopher Traverse assaulted in attack related to trial: lawyer
WARNING: This story contains details of child abuse.
The chief of a Manitoba First Nation was attacked outside a Winnipeg courthouse on what was supposed to be the second day of his trial on child sex assault charges, his lawyer told court.
The lawyer for Christopher Traverse asked for an adjournment on Monday, telling a provincial court judge that Traverse was assaulted before entering the court building and two people have been arrested.
"[Traverse] needs some time and isn't in a physical position to be with us in court," Candace Olson told Judge Stacy Cawley.
"Going forward, we're going to need some extra security measures in this courtroom."
Olson declined to provide any additional details outside the courtroom.
Winnipeg police confirmed in an email they received a call about an assault outside the court building, but did not say whether arrests had been made.
"We are continuing to investigate the matter as all parties are being identified and spoken to," said Const. Dani McKinnon.
The Crown did not object to rescheduling the trial and told court the assault was connected to the case.
"We can't proceed in the circumstances," Boyd McGill said. "My understanding is Mr. Traverse is injured and the assault's connected to this matter."
Traverse was the leader of Lake St. Martin First Nation when he was arrested last year.
He has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, sexual interference and child pornography offences.
He is accused of forcing an eight-year-old girl into a bathroom in his home, taking photos of her and sexually assaulting her in December 2023.
The complainant, who is now 10, attended the first day of the trial last week, where a video statement she gave to a worker at a child advocacy centre was played.
The girl said she was watching television at Traverse's home before he took her into the bathroom, where he took photos of her unclothed bottom half with his cellphone and the girl's.
Traverse then proceeded to sexually assault her, the girl said.
The girl said Traverse quickly deleted the photos while the two were still in the bathroom, but a version remained archived on her phone.
Her mother later found the photo and reported the allegations to police.
The photo became an issue of discussion last week, when the trial was also halted after it was learned the existence of the photo and a portion of metadata linked to it was only disclosed to lawyers on both sides earlier in the day.
Olson told court on Monday that she received the pertinent metadata that morning and also needed an adjournment to go over the information.
The trial is set to continue on June 24.
If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database.
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