Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 08/00) - An Inuvik teacher went on trial this week in Yellowknife for the second time on charges of sex crimes against a student ay Samuel Hearne High School.
David Button was a guidance counsellor in the early 1970s at the Inuvik school.
The trial put Button's word against the testimony of his accuser who said he was a victim of indecent assault and gross indecency.
"I was involved in a relationship I didn't want to lose because I had no-one else to talk to," said the complainant, who cannot be named because of a court-ordered ban on publication.
The former student said Button took advantage of his vulnerability as a 15-year-old and used his own position of authority to manipulate him.
Over time, the complainant said they went from being a student working with a counsellor to being friends and ultimately getting involved in a sexual relationship.
The complainant said he went to Button to discuss complaints of abuse at the hands of former Grollier Hall supervisor Paul Leroux.
Leroux was convicted of sex charges against young boys in 1998. Charges against Button are based on testimony from the Leroux trial.
The complainant said he told Button that Leroux took naked pictures of him and other boys, expecting that Button would tell authories.
"I did tell somebody about it and it turned out to be just as bad," the complainant said.
Crown counsel Craig Purvis questioned Button about why he didn't follow up on the Leroux complaint.
"The reason you never followed up on the photos he was referring to is that it was your intention to ... obtain sexual gratification from (the complainant) for yourself wasn't it?" asked Purvis.
"No it is not," Button replied.
"With the benefit of hindsight, would I have done it a lot differently? Yes," Button added, referring to the way in which he reported the complainant's disclosure of events that took place with Leroux.
Button said none of the events the complainant described ever happened.
Button's wife Myrna also testified and confirmed her husband's recollection of specific events between 1971 and 1978.
Button's first trial last May ended with a hung jury.
The jury in his latest trial began their deliberations late Wednesday. There was no word on the verdict at deadline.
