Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] : From: "chris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Wednesday 24 November 1999 The Canadian Press 'Disgusted' Ramsay denies rape by MARTIN O’HANLON MELFORT, Sask. (CP) - Alberta Reform MP Jack Ramsay was about to have sex with his alleged rape victim when he became disgusted with himself and backed off, a court heard Tuesday. Jurors listened to an audio tape of Ramsay's statement to police in July 1998 in which he describes what happened one day 30 years ago. Ramsay was charged with rape last year after a woman alleged he assaulted her in the small aboriginal community of Pelican Narrows, Sask., in 1969 when she was 14 years old. He was a 32-year-old RCMP corporal at the time. On the tape, Ramsay admits that he propositioned the girl at the local RCMP detachment. "I told her if she'd like to have sex with me, then to just undo her slacks," Ramsay is heard to say. "I went down the hall and when I came back her top button of her slacks was undone, her zipper was undone and I could see her panties. "I was sexually aroused and I approached her and I believe I touched her waist. "At that moment, the disgusting nature of what was happening caused me to turn away and I went back behind the desk." At no time was there any penetration, Ramsay insists, adding the incident lasted less than 10 seconds. As the tape played, Ramsay's wife, four children and other family members listened intently from the gallery. Ramsay, 61, sat in the prisoner's dock looking down. On Monday, the woman testified that Ramsay had difficulty penetrating her. The issue of penetration is pivotal to the case because there can be no rape without it. However, Ramsay could be found guilty of a lesser offence, such as indecent assault. The charge of rape doesn't exist in the Criminal Code anymore - it's now covered in the charge of sexual assault - but it did in 1969 and can be applied retroactively. The alleged victim has said she came forward with the accusation nearly 30 years after the incident as part of a healing process in her life. Psychologist John Yuille testified Tuesday it's not uncommon for people to wait many years to report sexual assaults. That's especially true with aboriginal people who don't trust the justice system, he said. Earlier Tuesday, the woman was cross-examined by defence lawyer Morris Bodnar, who pointed out inconsistencies in her account of the incident. He noted, for example, that she first reported wearing underwear but now says she wasn't. "The reality of the situation is, I got raped," she replied. "And all the little details . . . are minute." Bodnar then had the woman acknowledge that she was once convicted of a firearms offence and that she abused alcohol and drugs for many years. The woman glanced at Ramsay occasionally during her testimony but he didn't appear to make eye contact. On Monday, court heard a taped phone conversation between Ramsay and the woman in which he said he was sorry for what happened but insisted no sexual intercourse took place. Ramsay also faces charges of unlawful confinement against another woman around the same time. Justice Ted Noble agreed to a defence motion to hear that charge separately. No date has been set. Ramsay served in the RCMP for 14 years. He resigned in 1971 and went on to lead the now-defunct Western Canada Concept party in the 1980s. He was first elected in 1993 to represent Alberta's Crowfoot riding in the House of Commons. Ramsay stepped down from his duties as Reform's justice and immigration critic last September after the charges became public. He lives in Camrose, Alta., south of Edmonton. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<>
