Sussex-area sports coach denies sexually assaulting child under 10

WARNING: This story contains details of an alleged sexual assault on a child.

A jury trial in Saint John heard testimony from the young complainant and the accused on Friday. 

Terrance Soucy, 52, of Apohaqui is on trial on three charges — sexual assault, sexual touching and inviting the complainant to touch him sexually. 

A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the girl, who was under the age of 10 when the incidents are alleged to have occurred.

Clutching a blanket and a teddy bear, the girl testified in court that Soucy touched her private parts on four separate occasions in 2023 when he was a guest at her family's home. 

In each instance, she said she was playing the same video game on a computer in her family's living room when Soucy sat down beside her. 

After the final incident in October 2023, she said she confronted Soucy in messages sent through Facebook, starting with two audio clips that were played for the court. 

In them, she said, "I was mean to you today 'cause … I don't want you touching me in a bad way."

She then sent a typed message that said, "I need to tell cause my dad has cameras on his living room." 

Soucy replied, "Need to tell what?

"Oh my gosh … If I made you feel uncomfortable in any way, I am so sorry. I honestly didn't mean to." 

The girl responded, "I [do] not care." 

The complainant wasn't always certain in her testimony about the dates when things are alleged to have happened.

After the girl finished testifying Friday morning, Justice Arthur Doyle told the jury that children sometimes perceive the world differently than adults, including dates and lengths of time. 

Accused took the stand

During his testimony, Soucy described himself as a karate instructor. Social media posts indicate he was also a baseball coach and that he served on the executive of Sussex Minor Hockey. 

He strongly denied each of the allegations against him. 

"I didn't do it. It's hard to hear, but I didn't do it. I didn't do any of it," he said in court.

Under cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Michael Blackier asked him about the messages exchanged through Facebook the day before the incident was reported to police. 

Soucy said the comments were not about touching the girl.  

He was the only defence witness called by his lawyer, Rod Macdonald. 

The jury was sent home until Tuesday morning, when closing arguments are expected to begin. They were told to come with an overnight bag in case they have to be sequestered during deliberations.