Teacher initiated sexual relationship, former Edmonton junior high student tells court

An Edmonton junior high school music teacher accused of having sex with a 15-year-old studenthas pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and unlawful touching.

Alyssa Tungul, 30, is charged for incidents allegedly occurring between June 1 and Nov.30, 2016.

The student, now 20, testified in Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench on Monday and Tuesday behind a screen with achild protection worker present and a support dog by his side.

As the student's identity is protected by acourt-ordered publication ban, CBCis referring to him as David.

In the summer after Davidfinished Grade 9, the twotexted each other frequently, with Tungul confiding in him about her personal life, including her relationship with her fiance, David said.

• Edmonton teacher charged with sexual assault involving student

Tungul picked him up from a mall in the summer of 2016 anddrove to a quiet location along some fences, he testified.

"Basically she stopped the car and proceeded to climb over," David said. "We started cuddling."

David testified that Tungul gave him oral sex "for a couple of minutes" before getting nervousthey would be seen andclimbingback into the driver's seat.

They discussed their 11-year age difference, he said.

"She wanted to have a relationship," David said. "I was very confused."

David testified he lost his virginity to Tungulin August 2016 ather cousin's house.

"We had sex," he said. "She told me that she loved me."

They had intercourse twice after that, oncein her car outside the city and anothertime in the basement band room of the school.

Not long after, David decided to stop seeing Tungul.

"I ended it because she said she loved me and I felt like it was wrong," David testified. "I was a 15-year-old insecure kid.

"She put me in a position where I didn't want to be."

Hesaid Tungul told him repeatedly that he could never tell anyone about what had happened.

'It wasn't his fault'

For two years, David stayed quiet. At age 17, he told three cousins and a school friend about therelationship butthey didn't take it seriously and "basically brushed it off," he said.

In the spring of 2018, during an argument with his mother, hetold her he'd been sexually abused by a former teacher.

Hismother testified she encouraged her son to seek counselling.

"I related to [him] he was not of an age to consent and therefore it wasn't his fault," she said. "I didn't hold him responsible."

In November 2018,with the permission of her son, David's mother called Edmonton police.

In a taped interview with a sex crimes detective, David saidhe didn't want to see Tungul get arrested, go to jail orlose her job.

"I don't want anything," David said. "I just want to do the right thing."

Two months later, David was interviewed again by the same officer. He had made a decision.

"I want her to at least admit what she's done," David testified.

Tungul was charged in May 2019.

When Edmonton Catholic Schools was told about the police investigation in December 2018, Tungul was suspended with pay.

A board spokesperson saidTuesday Tungul remains on paid "unassigned duties."