The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of being “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” told a Supreme Court jury yesterday that he did not sexually assault a boy entrusted to his care.

Stephen Serrette, leader of the fringe political party Christian People’s Movement, waived his right to remain silent and opted to give sworn testimony before a nine-member jury and Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs concerning sexual abuse allegations.

On Tuesday, the jury heard from the timid complainant who said he was six years old when the sexual abuse occurred in December 2010. At the time he, his then ten-year-old brother, mother and the accused were at home.

His mother, he said, was in her bathroom taking a bath. He and his brother were taking a shower in their bathroom when the accused allegedly instructed the brother to penetrate him with his “private”.

The child was asked if he was assaulted more than once. The boy said he was, as often as “seven to ten times” between December 2009 and December 2010.

He also claimed that he was assaulted “three to five times” between December 2010 and December 2011.

“I didn’t know if it was right or wrong at the time ... (but now) I think it’s wrong,” the child said.

Serrette denied sexually assaulting the boy entrusted to his care while the mother had been in detention. The 53-year-old yesterday strongly denied the testimony of the complainant and told his attorney Halson Moultrie that he did not order the boy’s elder brother to do the same.

Prosecutor Aaron Johnson, in cross-examination, suggested to the accused that he did commit the crimes. Serrette maintained that he did not.

The accused then dismissed the prosecutor’s other suggestion that he was “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Serrette said he was devastated to learn what happened to the boy, however.

The jury asked the accused if he ever bathed the boys.

Serrette said he did but never bathed with them.

Serrette called a barber who cut the boy’s hair as a defence witness. Rodger Lloyd said Serrette took the boy to the barber every two weeks for a number of years.

“The boy was basically disciplined, happy and joyful,” Mr Lloyd said.

Mr Johnson asked the witness if he could speak to whether the accused molested the child. Lloyd said he could not.

When re-examined by Mr Moultrie, he said he was not aware of any complaints made by the boy against Serrette.

The case resumes today.