Wilbur Dedam trial hears from 3rd woman alleging sex abuse

A third woman who is accusing formerEsgenopetitjFirst Nation chief Wilbur Dedam of sexually abusing her as a child testified "I remember trauma" on Monday as Dedam's trial in the Court of Queen's Bench resumed in Miramichi.

The 43-year-old woman from Burnt Chuch was emotional on the witness stand from the time the Crown prosecutor began questioning her.

The woman had somewhat of a familialrelationship to Dedam. She is several years younger than the other two women who have accused Dedam of sex crimes and her memories are less clear.

• Wilbur Dedam trial on 6 sex charges postponed until Monday

Dedam, 62, is on trial for six sex-related charges involving three alleged victims between 1977 and 1985.

Due to a publication ban ordered by the court, no information may be published that would identify the alleged victims.

The witness said Dedam and his wife, Irene, "were mean all the time."

Testifies Dedam watched over her

She remembered awakening at 10 years of age after falling asleep watching television and finding Dedam standing over her, watching her.

On another similar occasion, she testified Dedam told her she was just checking on her.

On another occasion, she testified Dedamrubbed her leg and thigh and told her: "I want to make love to you."

The woman said Dedam told her not to say anything to his wife about the incident in her bedroom.

"I was just scared and I didn't feel safe," said the woman.

The witness said when she was a child she told Dedam's son she was afraid of his father.

The woman eventually went to live with relatives in Burnt Church and also lived in Tabusintac.

The witness said 10 years ago she confronted Dedam at a party as his daughter's house.

"My life isn't ruined and I'm not messed up and I forgive you because someone must have done something really wrong to you," she testified she said to Dedam.

She recalled Dedam saying "I'm sorry," and nothing more.

Cross-examination

Under cross-examation by defence lawyer T.J. Burke, the woman said she only remembers bits and pieces of her childhood and gave information to police in 2014.

"Since everything came back to the surface, I remember more things," she said.

The three woman who allege they were sexually abused by Dedamare known to one another and Burke pressed the woman about her conversations with the other accusers.

Burke also questioned the woman about another incident when she was awakened by a man, who was not Dedam, tapping her on the leg. The woman said it was unrelated.

Burke said to the witness that maybe the incident at Dedam's house didn't happen.

"It happened," she responded.

Burke brought up that the witness made her statement to police in 2014 just as Dedam was planningto run forchief once again. The woman said she was unaware Dedam was about to run for office again.

In the first week of the trial, two women have testified in the trial thatDedamsexually abused them when they were teenagers.

Dedam, 62, is on trial for six sex-related charges involving three alleged victims between 1977 and 1985.

The Court of Queen's Bench trial is being presided over by Justice Tracey DeWare and being heard by a jury of six men and six women.

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