Wilbur Dedam's wife testifies in his defence in sex-crime trial

Irene Dedam took the witness stand Thursday in defence of her husband of 43 years in his trial for alleged sexual abuse against three women when they were teens or younger.

FormerEsgenopetitjFirst Nation chief WilburDedam is on trial in Miramichi on six sex-related charges dating back to 1977-85.

Irene Dedamtestified she and her husband lived close to all the alleged victims in what was then known as Burnt Church. She said she babysat two of the accusers.

One of the accusers has testified Dedam abused her when she was babysitting for them.

However, Irene Dedam testified she had a pool of 10 people to babysit her three children when needed and denied the first alleged victim ever babysat for her.

Irene Dedam also testified none of the alleged victims ever made any allegations to her about Dedamsexually abusing them during the time in question.

The Crown will cross-examine Irene Dedam when the trial resumes Friday.

The Crown rested its case earlier Thursday,calling on a former social worker in the community to testify via videoconference.

Malcolm Saulis worked in the community around 1980, developing social service programs. Now a professor of social work at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont.,Saulis said the first alleged victim of sexual abuse by Dedam came to him asa preteen and told him she was "looking to get out of there because she wasn't comfortable."

Saulis said he rarely spoke about his time in Burnt Church before the police approached him to give a statement.

Saulissaid he did not take notes about his conversation with the girl because he didn't want to create distrust with her.To date, the judge and jury in the Court of Queen's Bench trial have heard testimony from the three victims who allegeDedamsexually molested them when they were teenage girls or younger. Thespouse of one of the victims also testified.

JudgeTraceyDeWaretold thesix men and six women on the jury the trial islikely to continue all next week.

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