Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 14/00) - A male nurse accused of sex crimes against a youth while working at Stanton Regional Hospital was acquitted last week.

Darrell Buchanan was charged with sexual assault and exploitation in November 1999 related to his conduct in bathing a male patient.

Judge Michel Bourassa said there was not enough evidence to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt Thursday in Yellowknife.

Buchanan testified in his own defence at the trial. Six other witnesses also testified including the complainant, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, and a female nurse.

"She went into the room where the complainant was and opened the curtain," Crown counsel Sue Kendall explained. "She said Buchanan appeared to be leaning over the groin area of the patient and had his hand on the groin area.

"She said (Buchanan) looked startled and covered the groin area with a towel and then she left."

Kendall added that it was a very difficult case and that the complainant had a difficult time testifying.

But defence counsel Robert Gorin explained that the youth himself testified that Buchanan washed him with a washcloth after a wetting incident.

"Mr. Buchanan's version was actually a lot like the kid's -- he washed him," he said. "The Crown's case was not particularly strong. Mr. Buchanan gave his evidence and was quite credible."

Bourassa said the female nurse's testimony was well-articulated but there was not enough evidence to find Buchanan guilty of any crime.