THUNDER BAY — The trial for a Lakehead University professor accused of sexual assault is scheduled to resume on May 31, 2023.
The trial for Han Chen opened last week before Justice Frank Valente in a Thunder Bay courtroom where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault.
Originally scheduled for three days, proceedings were delayed to allow counsel to make submissions on the admissibility of evidence, resulting in continuation dates needing to be set.
The complainant began her testimony last Wednesday on the first day of the trial, sharing details of two alleged incidents involving Chen, who was a professor in the department of natural resources management at the time.
The first incident occurred on Jan. 28, 2020 in the complainant’s office on the Lakehead University campus and involved Chen touching her leg and back, including her skin under her shirt.
The second incident occurred at a remote sample field off campus on Jan. 29, 2020 where the complainant alleges Chen pushed her into the backseat of a car and sexually assaulted her.
The complainant reported the incidents to Lakehead University and the Thunder Bay Police Service launched an investigation.
Defense counsel Kate Brindley began her cross-examination late Thursday and continued throughout the day on Friday.
Throughout her cross-examination, Brindley questioned the complainant about inconsistencies between the statements she made to police and the university and her testimony at trial.
One of the inconsistencies included whether the complainant was sitting in the front seat or the backseat of the car on the way out to the new sample field and if she was forced into the backseat by Chen. The complainant testified she was sitting in the front seat, but initially told police she was in the backseat.
“So you forgot what seat you were in and that you were forcibly removed and placed into the backseat?” Brindley asked the complainant.
“I don’t want to say I forgot when I was interviewed in a police vehicle,” the complainant testified. “I made a mistake.”
“You did not tell police you were forced into the back of the vehicle because you were not forced,” Brindley asked.
“At that time I thought I was sitting in the backseat so I wasn’t pushed,” the complainant said.
Another inconsistency Brindley questioned the complainant about was her testimony stating she was walking in front of Chen when the two returned to the Lakehead campus, testifying she wanted to get away from him.
However, video surveillance from Lakehead on Jan. 29 shows Chen and the complainant walking either side by side, or Chen in front.
“Would you agree that of all the videos we watched, none shows you walking in front?” Brindley asked.
“I agree,” the complainant said.
The complainant later added that when being interviewed by police at the time her mental state was “really bad” and the details she provided were what she remembered at that time.
Brindley is expected to resume her cross-examination when the trial continues May 31. Crown attorney Danielle Wood informed the court that she anticipates calling two more witnesses to testify.
Additional dates of June 2, 8, and 9 have also been scheduled for the trial’s continuation.
