Jillian Anderson, accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage girl she coached in soccer, faced hard words in the closing arguments of her trial Wednesday in Charlottetown.
Crown prosecutor Cindy Wedge urged P.E.I. provincial court Judge John Douglas to disregard Anderson's testimony that she was just friends with the 15-year-old, saying she abused her position as the girl's former coach to take advantage of her.
"She's one of the most deceitful, deceptive, dishonest people to come before the court," said Wedge.
"The evidence established that Anderson was obsessed with [the girl]."
She rejected Anderson's claim that the girl was being abused by her parents. She said this was Anderson way of justifying her own unnatural interest in the girl.
The Crown alleges the offences took place from 2006-2007, starting when Anderson was 21 and the victim was 14. The two met in 2005, while Anderson was coaching an under-14 girls soccer team in Charlottetown.
Over the course of the trial, the court heard that Anderson and the girl took showers together and were seen kissing, that Anderson sent her flowers on Valentine's Day and that she bought the girl a cellphone.
In her own testimony, Anderson said the two were just friends. She said it was the girl who wanted more and confessed to Anderson that she was gay.
Defence lawyer Chris Montigny said there wasn't enough evidence to prove a sexual relationship between the two, adding that whatever relationship they did have, they was no evidence the girl was in any way harmed by it.
Douglas said he would return with a decision on Oct 12. If found guilty of sexual exploitation, Anderson faces up to 10 years in prison.
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