By Troy Gillard and Sheldon Spackman

complainant, defendant take the stand

Mountie on trial denies woman’s claim he asked inappropriate questions

Jun 25, 2019 | 4:43 PM

The alleged victim of a Red Deer RCMP officer charged with sexual assault says he asked whether her breasts were real, said she had a nice body, but did not touch her.

The woman, whose name is under publication ban, testified on day two of the Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench trial for Cst. Jason Tress. The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty to counts of sexual assault with a weapon and breach of trust stemming from an incident on May 1, 2016.

Tress and three other officers had responded at around 2 a.m. to a domestic disturbance at an apartment near 52 Street and 46 Avenue. The intoxicated boyfriend of the alleged victim’s best friend had attacked his girlfriend before locking himself in a bathroom. He had cut his wrists by the time police arrived before being coaxed out and taken to the RCMP detachment by two officers.

The woman told court her friend was then questioned by a female officer in the kitchen of the apartment while she and Tress went alone into a bedroom, adding Tress then closed the door.

After providing her statement to Tress over the course of five to ten minutes, she said the conversation took an unexpected turn.

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“After I told him what happened, he asked me if my breasts were real or fake. I told him they were real because I didn’t really know what else to say,” she told court. “He said that I had a nice body. He asked if I wanted to leave the bedroom and I said yes and he said are you sure? And I said yes, I was sure.”

The alleged victim said Tress then stood in front of the bedroom door for 15-20 seconds before opening it.

“Did he move out of the way?” asked Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou.

“Not at first,” the victim replied.

“Did he touch you?” Papadatou continued.

“No.”

“Did he try to touch you?”

“No.”

“What was your reaction to what he was saying?” asked Papadtou.

“I was more stunned than anything. I didn’t really react at all,” she recalled.

Defense lawyer Robb Beeman questioned the victim extensively over how much she and her friends had to drink that night while out partying.

“Would you acknowledge that you had too much to drink that night?” asked Beeman.

“What would you say is too much to drink?” the victim replied. “I had too much to drink to be able to drive.”

Beeman also asked whether ASIRT investigators told her about other alleged victims of Tress before she provided her statement.

“No, I don’t believe so,” she replied.

Testifying in his own defence, Tress flat out denied the woman’s allegations against him.

“Did you ever make any comment about her breasts?” Beeman asked.

“Absolutely not,” replied Tress.

Beeman continued, “Did you ever make any comments about her body?”

“Absolutely not,” Tress stated again.

“Did you say that you wanted to stay in the room with her?”

“Absolutely not.”

The trial continues Wednesday.