Wilbur Dedam found guilty on 6 sex charges

Former Esgenoôpetitj First Nation chief Wilbur Dedam has been found guilty on charges he sexually assaulted three girls in the community between 1977-85.

A jury of six men and six women delivered its verdict Thursday in Miramichi after deliberating for about 10 hours over two days and being sequestered in a hotel on Wednesday night.

Dedam, 64, was tried on six charges of sexual assault, stemming from the accusations of three women that he sexually assaulted them when they were teenagers or younger more than 30 years ago.

The three victims were in the courtroom for the verdicts and cried after the six guilty verdicts were read by Justice Tracey DeWare of the Court of Queen's Bench.

Dedam sat stone-faced in the prisoner's box after the verdicts were read.

The six charges Dedam was convicted of are based on the Criminal Code at the time of the offences. They are:

• Sexual intercourse with a female under 14
• Sexual intercourse with a female under 16
• Sexual intercourse without consent
• Illicit sexual intercourse
• Two counts of sexual assault on a female person

The identity of the victims is protected by a publication ban on any information that would disclose their identities.

Taken into custody

Defence lawyer T.J. Burke requested Dedam remain free on conditions while awaiting sentencing, but DeWare said that would be inappropriate given the gravity of the offences.

Sitting in the prisoner's box, Dedam made eye contact with his wife in the courtroom.

Dedam was then taken into custody, leading to tears from family and supporters on his side of the courtroom. He gave a nod of his head to his family as he was led into a room beside the prisoner's box.

On the victims' side of the courtroom, there were hugs and smiles.

Dedam will return to court on Nov. 7 for a sentencing hearing. At that time, a pre-sentence report and victim impact statements will be put before the court for DeWare to consider in determining Dedam's sentence.