Intense cross-examination at Edmonton aggravated sexual assault trial
CBC
Court adjourned early on Wednesday afternoon after the complainant in an aggravated sexual assault case was subjected to hours of intense cross-examination.
Anthony Lee Taylor is accused of transmitting HIV to an unwitting sexual partner who paid him for sex in December 2016.
The complainant, who can only be identified by the initials JM, found out in February 2017 that he was HIV positive.
JM said he reported his suspicions about Taylor to health authorities and testified they attempted to reach Taylor.
"Eventually I sent text messages to Mr. Taylor, informing him that if he continues to ignore phone calls ... that he would leave me no choice other than to go to the Edmonton Police Service and report him and make a complaint," JM testified at a Taylor's trial in Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench.
He admitted he was "extremely angry" at the time.
"At this time, my anger was getting the best of me," JM said. "I felt that I was almost losing control and that if something wasn't done, then there could be a meeting between myself and Mr. Taylor."
JM said Edmonton police contacted him in July 2017 after two health-care practitioners passed along their concerns about threats that JM was making against others including Taylor.
He said being investigated for uttering threats made him even more angry.
During cross-examination, the 59-year-old admitted he was agitated at the time and prone to outbursts.
"I have mental health issues as well as other issues that I believe cause me to feel that I am discriminated against," JM testified.
The jury was told that police ultimately decided not to charge JM with uttering threats. Before they charged Taylor with aggravated sexual assault, officers interviewed JM as a complainant.
During relentless cross-examination by defence lawyer Sarah Terry, a number of inconsistencies were exposed between JM's testimony during the trial and the earlier statements he gave to police.
In his first police interview, JM told a constable that he uses condoms during sex about 90 per cent of the time. He admitted that he later told a detective he always uses condoms.
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