EDMONTON — Gymnastics coach Perry Nile Larsen embraced his wife in the hallway outside an Edmonton courtroom on Wednesday afternoon, after being found not guilty of sexual assault and sexual interference for an alleged incident involving a 12-year-old gymnast. …
Larsen, 40, was charged in 2008, after a then-12-year-old gymnast told her mother that he pulled her sweatpants and underwear down three times while she was in a back-bend position during a drop-in practice at the Capital City Gymnastics Club.
After listening to several days of testimony — as well as a full day of closing arguments on Wednesday — Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Mel Binder said there was not sufficient evidence to find Larsen guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“I’m not at all sure that the incident occurred,” he said.
Binder noted that there were more than 50 people in the gym at the time of the alleged incident, but no one — not even the complainant — actually saw what happened, The judge also rejected the girl’s testimony about where exactly the alleged incident occurred.
… Larsen previously faced charges in relation to two other girls, but Engel said those charges were withdrawn by the Crown in the spring. …
Of course the reputation of a coach is ruined even with this kind of allegation.
Larsen has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Edmonton police chief, officers alleging broad police misconduct in the case.
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Update:
Help Support Friends of Perry by donating to:
Bank of Montreal
Account 2633-8994-802
Links:
http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=6366f141-f758-41c6-873d-c3623f37c199
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/12/02/16404216.html
More can be found:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20101202/edomont-coach-sues-101202/
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/12/02/16404216.html
http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101202/edm_trial_101202/20101202/?hub=EdmontonHome
http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Edmonton+court+hears+final+arguments+against+gymnastics+coach/3913242/story.html
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/sign+sexual+touching+club+workers+testify/3885848/story.html
Gymnastics Coaching.com 