Former school teacher takes stand to deny all sexual touching allegations in second trial

WARNING: This story contains graphic sexual content

A former high school musicteacheron trial for sex-related offencestestified in his own defence Monday to deny all the allegations made against him by a former student.

RogerJabbour, 65, faces two charges of sexual exploitation involving hisformer student,datingback to the1990swhenshe attendedColonelGrayHigh School in Charlottetown.

Jabbourspent over two hours on the stand, denying all of the allegations the student made against him. He is the only witness the defence intends to call.

He told the court the complainant was a talented musician and that he considered her a friend.

Last week, the woman testifiedthatJabbourwould call her into his office several times a week and that during these meetings, he would kiss her and that he exposed himself to her and asked her to touch him. She said he masturbated in front of her on at least one occasion. Jabbourtold the court this never happened.

She told court she confrontedJabbouraround the time of her graduation and gave him a letter thatsaid shenever wanted to see or speak to him again.

On the stand Monday, Jabboursaid he never received that letter and that meeting didn't happen. He also testified that the womangave him her graduation photo before moving away to attend university.

Hetold the court the womancame to his home to visit his family a number of timeswhen she returned to theIsland.

Jabbour also said she wrote letters to him and his family after she left the Island and that he received the last letter from her three years after she graduated.He told the court he never responded to any of the letters.

His lawyer,Joel Pink, had the former music teacher read passages from the letters, some of which were signed with "hugs and kisses."

When Crown attorneyValerie Moore questioned Jabbourabout why he chose to keep the letters for more than25 years he told the court he saved everything his students gave him.

The lawyers will present their closing arguments in court Tuesdaymorning.

Previous verdict, testimonies accepted as evidence

This is Jabbour'ssecond trial on sex-related charges involving former students.

Earlier this monthhe was found guilty of three charges related to sexual touching involving three former students from 2012 to 2015. He has not been sentenced on those charges yet.

Judge Nancy Orr ruledthe transcripts of the three complainantsat the previous trial and the findings of convictionwill be admittedas evidence she will consider inthis latest trial.

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