Former teacher Noel Strapp has appealed his conviction for sexually exploiting and sexually assaulting a teenage student he taught and coached.
Strapp’s lawyer, Ian Patey, filed the appeal on Tuesday and has called for the convictions to be overturned and a new trial ordered.
Patey set out five reasons for the appeal, most of which relate to Judge Phyllis Harris’ consideration of the evidence and challenging the victim’s credibility.
The appeal states that Harris did not resolve the inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony, misinterpreted or ignored the defense evidence that would support Strapp’s credibility, and did not provide adequate reasoning for the conclusions reached. arrived based on evidence provided by the victim.
Patey argues that the judge reviewed Strapp’s evidence more strictly than the victim’s, “so that the assessment of credibility between [Strapp] and the complainant was unreasonable, unequal and unfair. “
The appeal also refers to a sex tape, a video the defense claims Judge Harris did not properly consider.
During the trial, the victim told the court they sent her a sex tape involving Strapp’s now ex-wife. In his testimony, Strapp flatly stated that there was no such tape.
Attorney Ian Patey, left, with Strapp in St. Louis Provincial Court. John’s in November. (Luke Wall / CBC)
Strapp, 39, was found guilty in February and in June sentenced to four years for sexual interference and two years for sexual assault, which must be served simultaneously.
During the trial, the former student told the court that a sexual relationship between her and Strapp began when she was 16 and while he was her teacher and coach in various sports.
He told the court the two had about 100 sexual interactions. It happened while he was at school, at Strapp’s house, in his children’s rooms and in his car, he said.
The woman also told the court that while in grades 11 and 12, she and Strapp exchanged sex images and videos via Snapchat, an app that deletes messages once the person receiving them reads them.
There is no set date for the resource.
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