Lloyd Whitehorne, an elementary school teacher from Port aux Basques alleged to have had an intimate relationship with a 13-year-old girl, has been acquitted of charges of sexual assault and sexual interference.
Judge Catherine Allen-Westby delivered her decision on the case in provincial court in Corner Brook Monday morning, one month after a three-day trial in early September.
The judge believed there were inappropriate conversations via electronic devices between Whitehorne, 41, and the young girl and that he did nothing to discourage those conversations from continuing. At trial, Whitehorne had denied he had sent some of those messages, which indicated plans for the two to meet secretly.
However, Allen-Westby said there was reasonable doubt about whether any inappropriate physical contact had ever taken place between the two. The judge based that decision primarily on inconsistencies between what the girl had told police and her testimony in court during the trial.
I am a formed student to Mr. Whitehorne's and i current still live in the community where he teaches. I completely disagrees with what you have to say. If the judge dropped the charges and let the man go free shouldn't he be alllowed to move on with his life to and be able to teach again. Which being a former student I can say that this man is a wonderful teacher and i learned a great deal by being in his classes. My daughter is just starting school at this elementary school where he teaches and I would have no problem with him teaching her. Unless you are from this community and have met Mr. Whitehorne or been taught by him how can you honestly sumit a comment on what you think. People should never be so quick to judge other people.