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The judge and jury trial has begun in Saskatoon for the former principal of Legacy Christian Academy, a school that has faced controversy over abuse claims made by former students.
Duff Arthur Friesen is on trial for four counts of assault with a weapon stemming from allegations that he struck former students with a wooden paddle between 2003-2004. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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At Court of King’s Bench on Monday, 12 jurors were selected for the eight-day trial.
Due to a publication ban, details such as evidence led, exhibits filed, submissions made, and victim impact statements cannot be reported on.
The request for a media ban was made by Friesen and was granted by Justice Natasha Crooks. The application also included a request to restrict publication of the jury’s verdict, which was denied.
In 2023, Friesen was charged with 11 counts of assault with a weapon. The publication ban protects the second judge and jury trial involving the remainder of Friesen’s charges. That trial is set to take place from Sept. 15-26.
Friesen is one of many former staff members named in claims from students during their time at the school previously known as Christian Centre Academy.
The school has since been renamed as Valour Academy.
In March, the school’s former executive director John Olubobokun was on trial for nine charges of assault with a weapon.
The verdict for Olubobokun’s trial is expected to be delivered on July 21.
In January of 2024, former principal Ken Schultz pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a weapon and sexual assault. In July, he was charged with another count of sexual assault and assault with a weapon.
The school’s former athletic director Aaron Travis Benneweis was given a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Former students have filed a class action lawsuit of more than $25 million against teachers, directors, principals and staff who worked at the school.
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