Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 26/00) - The man convicted in one of the North's most notorious sex cases may have another day in court after his appeal is heard.

Former Grollier Hall supervisor Paul Leroux is appealing his 1998 conviction and sentencing on nine sex charges relating to incidents that took place at the Inuvik residential school in the 1960s and 1970s.

He attempted to have his appeal heard June 21 in the NWT Court of Appeal but due to procedural problems arising from his attempt to represent himself, his appeal was adjourned. A new hearing date will be set on Sept. 7. The appeal was filed in October 1998.

In court last week, Leroux spoke on his own behalf, challenging the competence of the legal counsel he received during his trial, and attempting to withdraw the guilty pleas he made at his trial in August 1998.

He spoke articulately, although he appeared somewhat nervous and despondent.

"I've been waiting 22 months for my appeal and I'm glad I'm able to say a few words," he said. "The most important grounds I want to appeal is the incompetence of counsel."

After Leroux submitted what he called a brief to the panel of Justices they took time to review it but determined it, in itself, could not be used as new evidence.

"You seem to have a capable working knowledge of legal issues but you don't have the proper documents before the courts today," said Justice J.E. Richard.

Leroux needed to have notices of motions filed with the Court of Appeal to have further evidence introduced -- his own sworn affidavit -- and to be allowed to withdraw guilty pleas.

"The papers should be prepared promptly and filed with the registrar in Yellowknife and copies sent to (Crown counsel Wes Smart) the sooner the better," said Justice Jean Cote, another justice on the panel.

Tom Boyd appeared as counsel for Leroux on other legal issues concerning the treatment of evidence by the trial judge and filed a factum with the court as required.

Leroux was convicted on nine charges -- attempted buggery, attempted indecent assault, three counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. He initially pleaded guilty to the four gross indecency counts.

He has been serving a 10-year sentence in a British Columbia prison since his conviction.

Several victims gave evidence at Leroux's original trial, revealing a pattern of behaviour that included an escalation from hugging and kissing to genital fondling, oral sex and, in one case, anal sex.

Leroux testified in his own defence at that trial, saying he was sexually abused as a young man when he was a member of a Catholic church choir in Granby, Quebec. In his testimony, he also said he was not aware, at the time he was in Inuvik, that his actions were sexually abusive.

Leroux was arrested in 1997 at his apartment in Vancouver, B.C., from which pornographic photos were also seized.

If the appeal is successful Leroux would receive a new trial.

That's a concern for Harold Cook, victim's advocate for the Grollier Hall Healing Circle.

He said Leroux's continuing court fight could prove difficult for Grollier Hall victims.

"I would hate to see the guys go through another (trial)."

The Grollier Hall Healing Circle was formed during Leroux's trial in 1998, mobilizing a team of Aboriginal consultants to counsel and support the men during the trial process.