Thursday, March 20, 2014

Accused Takes Stand At Bridgewater Sexual Assault Trial

A 64 year old Halifax-area man charged with sexual assault is testifying today during his Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. John Leonard MacKean says he would have helped the teenage boy who was chained up and blindfolded, if he had known he was being held against his will.
MacKean is accused of paying to perform sexual acts on the boy while he was chained-up and blindfolded. However, the 64 year old denies those charges, saying he was duped by Wayne Cunningham into going to the cabin. Cunningham was one of the main figures in the kidnapping and confinement of the 16 year old in Upper Chelsea. The relationship between MacKean and Cunningham grew through Cunningham offering personal massages to help MacKean with his bad hip after they met in 2011 at alcoholic anonymous meetings in Halifax. MacKean testified this morning he was just going for another massage when he went to the cabin on September 20, 2012. The accused also stated he never discussed paying to perform sexual acts on the boy. The crown will have an opportunity to question the accused later today. A 12 member jury is expected to begin its deliberations later today or tomorrow.