11 Jan 2008

Preacher's child 'wife' won't face his questioning at trial

Montreal Gazette - January 11, 2008


A teenager will not have to come face to face in court with a man more than three times her age who claims to have married her when she was 10, a Quebec Court judge ruled yesterday.

The woman, now 18, will be able to testify against Daniel Cormier, 56, by video link, Judge Sylvie Durand said.

Neither she nor her mother will have to be cross-examined by Cormier, who is defending himself. Instead, the judge will appoint a lawyer to ask the questions.

Cormier, a self-proclaimed minister, has been defending himself since he was charged four years ago with sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual assault, and two counts of sexual exploitation of girls. He argues it's not a crime to have sex with one's wife.

The trial is to continue Wednesday.

When the teen last appeared by video hookup in court in December, she said Cormier would not leave her alone. The woman's name cannot be published.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=02a16435-3642-4637-983d-ad9bb45b0917

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