Crown seeks up to 10-year sentence for Wilbur Dedam on 6 sex charges

TheCourt of Queen's Bench inMiramichi heard emotional testimonyfrom one of the victims ofWilburDedamat the former EsgenopetitjFirst Nation chief'ssentencing hearing Monday on sex crimes.

Dedam, 64, was found guilty by a jury on Sept. 29 of sexually assaulting three girls in the community between 1977 and 1985. He has remained in custody since then.

• Wilbur Dedam found guilty on 6 sex charges

The victim who cannot be named because of a publication ban protecting the women's identitiesreadan impact statement in front of a crowded courtroom, asmembers of the community came to hear sentencing recommendations.

"Unfortunately, one of first things Ithink about when I wake up and before I go to sleep is Wilbur Dedam," she said. "He haunts my dreams."

The woman told court that for the past 40 years, she has suffered from anxiety and panic attacksto the point she hasbecome completely dependent on her husband,who she said often had to come home from work to comfort.

"This man essentially ruined my life,"the woman said of Dedam, adding the assaults started when she was 12 years old.

She said she still has difficulty going anywhere alone or feeling safe in her home.

"The fear and pain is still in me."

• WilburDedamtrial hears closing arguments

Crown Prosecutor Melanie MacAulayasked Justice Tracey DeWare to sentence Dedam tobetweeneight and10 years in prison for his crimes.

MacAulay argued there were several aggravating factors, including theyoung age of the victims, the factDedam was a family friend and chief of the community, that the victims were made to believe they'd be in trouble if they spoke out, the frequency and durationof the sexual assaults and the factDedam didn't use any protection, putting victims at risk of pregnancy or disease.

Defence asks for 3 to 4 years

Defence lawyer T.J. Burkeasked the court for a sentence of three to fouryears in prison.

Given the emotional nature of the case, Burke urged the judgeto consider onlythe "actual harm done to the victims" during the assaults, not any medical or psychiatric diagnosis that might have resulted as a consequence, saying thosewere "outside the realm of what's acceptable in a court of law."

Burke describedDedamas a "respectful humble man" who is "highly regarded in his community."

Other factors the judge should consider before imposingsentence, Burke argued, are thatDedamis an aboriginal person from a different generation, haslimited education, andcame from a household where alcoholism was a problem.

Dedam is expected to be sentenced on Dec. 5.

Hewas convicted on six charges, based on the Criminal Code at the time of the offences. They include:

• Sexual intercourse with a female under 14.
• Sexual intercourse with a female under 16.
• Sexual intercourse without consent.
• Illicit sexual intercourse.
• Two counts of sexual assault on a female person.

The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for about 10 hours over two days.

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