Winnipeg pediatrician accused of molesting son says 'abnormal imagination' behind allegations

A renowned Winnipegpediatrician accused of sexually molestinghis son about 100 times didn't mince words when asked during his trial if the alleged abuseoccurred.

VictorChernickadamantly deniescommittinganysexual acts against his son, and he rejects the allegation that he admittedto the abuse years later and apologizedto his son for it.

"Absolutely not," the 82-year-old said this week of the purported abuse, which is alleged to have happened between1975-1979.

"I find those acts repugnant," he testified beforeCourt of Queen's Bench Justice Joan McKelvey.

Chernickjust as forcefully denied that there was aconversation at the family cabin where he, while drunk and emotional, confessed the abuse to his sonRichard Chernick, now 56,and his daughter-in-lawDebra Stern.

Iblindly supported him because he's innocent until proven guilty, that's the rule of law.- RobertChernick, brother of the accused

Both Richard Chernick and Stern testified last week that such a conversation took place.

Victor said he's never been intoxicated before.

"This is sheer nonsense. A conversation like that never took place. It's coming out of the realm of some abnormal imagination."

Brother of accused testifies

After hearing the Crown's caselast week, the defence called the accused on Monday and his brother, Robert Chernick, on Tuesday to defend the prominent medicalpractitioner and scholar, who was the formerchief pediatrician at Winnipeg's Children's Hospital.

VictorChernickwas charged in 2014 withincest, indecent assault, buggery and two counts of gross indecency after his soncame forward to police.

He has pleaded not guilty, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.

During his testimony last week, Richard recounted at least four instances of sexual abuse in graphic detail that he says happened in his mid- to late teens, including one casewhere he says his mother walked in on them.

On Tuesday, Victor's brothertold the court he first learned of Richard's allegations in 2013 when his brother acknowledged the policeinvestigation.

Believed brother's innocence

Robert said he believed his brother from the beginning and did not ask him any questions about it.

Crown attorney Debbie Buors suggested Robert was "blindly supporting" his brother because he's indebted to him for a previous financial arrangement.

"Iblindly supported him because he's innocent until proven guilty, that's the rule of law.Why would Inot support the premise?"Robert Chernickanswered.

"Well,why not the rule of your family? The rule of you as a human being? The rule of you as a uncle?" Buorsasked.

"Would younot pick up the phone? Would you not have asked your brother what was going on?"

Robert believed his brother because he too hadbeen accused of sexual assault years earlier by Richard's sister Sharon Chernick.

The siblings, whose names can be revealed because theywaived the publication banin place for victims of sexual allegations, also brought acivil lawsuit against their father in 2014, alleging years of mental and sexual abuseperpetratedby their dad. The matter has been postponed until the criminal trial is seen through.

Charges from Sharon's allegations against Victor Chernick were later stayed.

Told psychologists about alleged abuse

The alleged abuse tormented Richard for years, he told court last week. He was twice hospitalized, for two months at a time in each case, due to depression, he said.

Richard saidhe started seeing a psychologist at 18, at the insistenceof Stern, his future wife. He told two psychologists about the alleged incidents and his father also accompanied him on oneappointment to discuss the abuse,court heard.

Some time afterward, Child and Family Services called Richardinto a meeting, though he testified he wasn't comfortable with "coming forward with saying my father was a child molester."

Victor admitted to the abuse during therapy, Stern alleged in court last week.

He has not had a relationship with his father since a dispute over an invitation to Richard's son's bar mitzvah in 2001.

The Crown suggested thefalling out wastied to the allegedsexual abuse, but Victor Chernick said he was in the dark until he was arrested by police in 2013.

Closing arguments in the trial will be heard on Wednesday.

Victor Chernick, Winnipeg doctor, on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting son

6 years ago

Duration 1:20

A renowned Winnipeg pediatrician accused of sexually molesting his son about 100 times didn't mince words when asked during his trial if the alleged abuse occurred.

With files from Bryce Hoye.