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Not guilty

Even though he believed a Chelmsford man ?probably did it,? one of Sudbury?s most experienced judges said he couldn?t convict him of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.
Even though he believed a Chelmsford man ?probably did it,? one of Sudbury?s most experienced judges said he couldn?t convict him of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.

Justice Ian Gordon of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice said inconsistencies in the complainant?s testimony failed to convince him beyond a reasonable doubt that Laurent Blais, 60, made the girl touch his genitals during an incident in 1970.

Following a two-day trial last week, Gordon ruled earlier this week the complainant presented as a good witness who didn?t embellish her evidence.

However, there were serious problems with her evidence in many key areas, said Gordon.