Man describes alleged sexual assault at trial of former N.W.T. teacher and coach

WARNING: This article contains graphic details that may be disturbing. It also may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it. 

Another complainant testified on Wednesday at the sexual assault trial of a former N.W.T. teacher and coach, and said that Neil Barry touched him inappropriately on two occasions. 

Barry is on trial facing three charges of sexual assault and three charges of sexual exploitation. Barry worked as a teacher in the N.W.T., between 2007 and 2017.

The Crown alleges the sexual abuse involved four boys, then aged 16 to 18. The Crown prosecutor says Barry allegedly committed the sexual offences between 2007 and 2011.

On Wednesday, the court heard from a complainant who was an athlete at the time of the alleged incidents, and Barry was his coach. The complainant's identify is protected by a publication ban. 

The man said that Barry helped him as an athlete, but he described two incidents that he said changed his relationship with his former coach. 

CBC News isn't reporting certain details of the alleged incident to avoid disclosing the identity of the complainant. 

The complainant described one of the incidents that allegedly happened when he was in Yellowknife with Barry for a sports event. He said he was asleep on a couch and awoke to Barry placing his testicles in his hand. The complainant said he opened his eyes carefully, trying not to alert Barry that he was awake because he was scared for his safety. 

During cross examination on Wednesday, defence lawyer Amy Lind asked the complainant if he had actually opened his eyes — he had said in earlier police testimony that he kept his eyes closed during the alleged incident. 

The complainant was adamant that he did open his eyes and see Barry. He said he struggled to remember the details of the event when first reporting it because of how traumatic it was. 

Lind continued questioning the complainant and suggested that the incident hadn't actually happened as he described it. She suggested that the complainant may have been asleep on the couch with his own hand in his pants and awoke when some of his teammates walked into the room. 

Lind asked the man how the news of Barry's arrest had traveled through the community. The man said he had received messages from people on Facebook discussing the news. 

She suggested that he may have misremembered certain details about his relationship with Barry after hearing the news of Barry's arrest. 

Barry was officially charged in 2021 and is pleading not guilty to all charges.

The jury trial continues on Thursday. 

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.