Prairie torture trial hears from victim's girlfriend

The Calgary trial of Dustin Paxton, accused of torturing and sexually assaulting his male roommate, heard from the alleged victim's former girlfriend Tuesday.

As the Crown's first witness, the woman, who had a child with the victim, testified that she witnessed the man's appearance deteriorate over the course of his alleged captivity.

"He looked sick. He was tiny, his skin was yellow," she told the court. She said when she knew him previously in Winnipeg the five-foot eight-inch tall man weighed more than 200 pounds.

But the woman added that Paxton's alleged victim told her that everything was fine, that his physically demanding work was simply taking a toll on him.

She also described Paxton, who ran a moving company, as an "irritated man" who was mean to the victim, who worked with him.

"Mr. Paxton treated [the victim] like a piece of crap. One time Mr. Paxton sent [him] to his room and he actually went," she said.

Paxton, 31, pleaded not guilty to all charges as the trial opened on Tuesday.

Paxton is alleged to have kept his roommate confined and assaulted him repeatedly over a period of almost a year-and-a-half in Calgary and Regina.

When the victim was dropped off at a Regina hospital in April 2010 he weighed only 87 pounds, had several broken bones and part of his lips and tongue were cut off.

Paxton faces several charges including aggravated assault, forcible confinement, sexual assault, and sexual assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

The victim's family said the lengthy assaults amounted to torture.

Crown attorney Joe Mercier said Paxton dominated the roommate mentally and physically. Mercier said he will call 50 witnesses in the trial, expected to last five weeks.

As Mercier made his case, Paxton sat in the prisoner's box and shook his head when the sexual assault allegations were raised.

The Crown also plans to call another of Paxton's former roommates, who will testify about the alleged abuse he suffered, including an attack involving a baton and dog leash.

It's not clear when the alleged victim will testify.

The man, who suffered a brain injury and now walks with a cane, said he cannot remember many details about his ordeal. He said he was too scared to leave.

A publication ban prohibits naming the victim and other witnesses that could lead to identifying him.