RCMP officer found guilty of assault, acquitted on other charges

RCMP Const. Cameron Lockhart, who was accused of assaulting two women in the Bay Roberts area between 2009 and 2011, has been found guilty on one charge of assault.

Lockhart was acquittedon a number of other charges at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John's on Wednesday afternoon,including four other assault charges and a charge of uttering threats.

"I am pleased that my client was acquitted on seven of the eight counts," Lockhart's lawyer Nick Avis said.

"But when a jury convicts on one of eight counts credibility is such a big issue. It's usually a sign of what we call an unreasonable verdict and I will be instructing my client to appeal."

• Fate of RCMP officer accused of assaults now with jury

Lockhart, 32,was convicted for choking a woman he had a relationship with.

Hehas been suspended with pay from theRCMPsince he was charged.

Avis said Lockhart is concerned about his future with the police force.

"For a police officer one conviction is just as bad as eight," Avis said outside of the Supreme Court in St. John's, folling the jury's verdict.

"It will certainly, seriously, impact his career if not put an end to it."

Lockharthad been accused of multiple assaults ondifferent occasions against the two women. He had denied each one.

He was acquitted on anallegationhe destroyed one woman's jewelry in a jealous rage.

The woman testified that Lockhart asked her for some jewelry she received from previous relationships, chewed them in his mouth and spit them out.

Avis had called the allegation absurd, and the jury decided there was not enough proof to convict.

Credibility of witnesses

During a hearing on Monday, Avis attacked the credibility of the women.

He said the women did not go to police because the alleged incidents didn't happen.

One woman testified she didn't go to the police because she still had feelings forLockhart. Both women testified they didn't complain, becauseLockhart told them his position as a police officer meant they would not be believed.

Crown prosecutor Jason House told the jury nothing should be inferred from the women's decision not to go to police.

A sentencing hearing for Lockhart will be held at a later date.