'It was shocking': Pediatrician's sister testifies in incest trial

The trial of a prominent Winnipeg pediatrician charged with incest got underway in a Manitoba courtroom this morning.

Dr. Victor Chernick was charged with incest, buggery, indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency in January 2014. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1975 and 1979.

Chernick, 82, has pleaded not guilty.

The trial was originally set to start in November 2017, but was rescheduled due to a medical issue. Chernick had been admitted to hospital a week before the trial was originally supposed to start.

On Wednesday, Chernick's sister Robin Tyler was called to testify.

Crown attorney Debbie Buors questioned Tyler about her relationship with her brother and how she first heard of the allegations against him.

Tyler said in the early 1980s, Chernick'sdaughter Sharon and another family membercame to visit her in San Francisco and told her about the allegations of molestation.

"It was shocking," said Tyler, adding she couldn't imagine it happening in her family.

Tyler, 76, also testified that after hearing of the allegations she called her other brotherand later travelled to Winnipeg for a meeting with the accused and some otherfamily members.

Tylercould not recall the length of the meeting but said it happened at a Winnipeg hotel and that she told the accused to apologize for what he had done. Tyler told the court she heard him apologize in the meeting.

She said she didn't go to police at that time because the family didn't want her to, however she said she did meet with family therapists.

Questioned Tyler's recollection

Defence lawyer SarahInnessquestionedTyler'srecollectionabout both the meeting and the call Tylertestified that she made to one of her brothers.

RichardChernickand his sister SharonChernickfiled a civil lawsuit in 2014 against their father, alleging he "sexually, physically, emotionally and mentally abused, assaulted and traumatized" them, and committed incest and gross indecency against them for years.

In the civil action, Dr.Chernickdenied the allegations and said they are made out of spite and ill will, and result from "fertile imaginations."

This trial is expected to wrap up next Friday.

With files from Dean Pritchard, Vera-lynnKubinecand Katie Nicholson