A former administrator at a Saskatoon private school took the stand as the first defence witness in Duff Friesen’s assault trial, describing paddling as a school policy that required parental sign-off. The witness, identified as Lou Brunelle, stated that he supervised paddling during his time at Christian Centre Academy and said that parents signed consent forms.
Brunelle was photographed with a wooden paddle for a 1997 Maclean’s magazine article, a detail entered into evidence by the defence. The image accompanies Brunelle’s testimony, along with his assertion that paddling fell within the school’s established policies and procedures.
The trial centers on allegations of assault, with Friesen facing related charges. The testimony from Brunelle provides the defence with a perspective from a former school administrator about disciplinary practices at the institution.
Details related to the exact dates of Brunelle’s statements, the contents of the consent forms, or the broader disciplinary framework at the school were not fully disclosed in the available report. The proceedings continue as the defence and crown present additional witnesses and evidence.
