Bobby Hayes said he was 10 or 11 years old when he suffered his first sexual assault at the hands of police officer Kenneth Estabrooks, in the Saint John region of New Brunswick. Fifty years later, he was in court on Monday, where he said a law enforcement officer ruined his life.
The City of Saint-Jean is in court to judge its responsibility for the damage and suffering allegedly inflicted by the aggressor-a municipal police officer-on dozens, even hundreds of children and teenagers in between of 1953 and 1983.
Bobby Hayes, 62, is at the heart of a class action case that began hearing Monday before Justice William Grant of the Queen’s Bench Court. The test should last 10 days.
On Monday, he said he was 10 or 11 years old when Kenneth Estabrooks first attacked him. Police ordered him to ride in the patrol car before he was attacked in the front seat.
The attacker then threatened to kill his parents with his gun in case he talked about it.
The attacks were reported to have continued more than a dozen times, until Bobby Hayes was 13 and big and fast enough to get away.
” I could no longer study, I finished nothing. I hated and despised the police. “
In her argument, attorney Celeste Potlak pointed out that the abuser used her power of authority to bully children. The attacks happened while he was wearing a uniform and driving a patrol car, he said.
He has a police position and a police firearm he mentioned, and added that the City had failed in its duty to protect the public.
We are looking for an end
We are looking for an end, not just for me, but for other victims says Bobby Hayes, known in Saint John for leading the non-profit Joshua Group, which provides food, clothing and social activities to children in need.
We want to end it and get our lives backhe said.
The court must determine whether the City of Saint-Jean has a moral obligation to protect class action participants against injuries caused by Kenneth Estabrooks. And, if so, if he fails in his duty.
In its defense, the City denies any responsibility.
More than 260 young people have been injured in more than 30 years
An investigation launched in 2012 by the city determined that more than 260 youths may have been attacked by Kenneth Estabrooks in 30 years.
In 1975, two teenagers claimed they had been sexually assaulted by police. Kenneth Estabrooks then signed a statement admitting to the allegations, but St. Louis police decided. John not to accuse him.
Instead, Kenneth Estabrook was transferred to the city’s public affairs department, where he continued to work until 1983.
Bobby Hayes said the abuse continued with him and other teens after this move. He even said that Kenneth Estabrooks manipulated older teens by bribing them with alcohol or money or threatening them.
In 1999, Kenneth Estabrooks was charged with indecent assault against four men and a woman. She was acquitted of the number of anal intercourse with a man. He was convicted of other charges and sentenced to six years in prison. He died in 2005.
According to the CBC report
Source: Radio-Canada
