Woman's messages from Trevor Birtch 'made me so sick,' testifies ex-friend of then Woodstock mayor
His 2nd sexual assault trial since August conviction on similar charges began Tuesday
WARNING: This story references allegations of sexual assault:
Trevor Birtch's one-time friend told a London, Ont., court that she passed on concerning voice messages from the now former Woodstock mayor to another woman, knowing they would eventually be forwarded to police.
"I thought they could help with her friend who was going through some legal troubles with Trevor at the time," said the woman, who cannot be named because it could identify the complainant. "I understood that she wanted to give them to the London police and I gave her the messages for that purpose."
The woman's testimony opened the second sexual assault trial against Birtch, 49, who last month was convicted of assault and sexual assault in a separate case.
The trial that began Tuesday is related to a single female complainant who cannot be identified by court order. It involves three different incidents:
- The first in August 2021.
- The second in April 2022.
- The third involving a period between 2017 and early 2022 that covers any other unwanted sexual activity between Birtch and the complainant.
Earlier Tuesday, Birtch pleaded not guilty to all three counts in the judge-alone trial before Superior Court Justice Spencer Nicholson.
The messages that caused the woman who testified on Tuesday to pass them on have not yet been presented as evidence in court.
However, the woman told the court the contents of the messages played a role in her decision to end her friendship with Birtch.
"They just made me so sick," she testified. "I just couldn't do it anymore. I originally thought the benefits outweighed, you know, what I was having to listen to, but those messages made me realize they did not in fact."
Forensics expert downloaded messages for investigation
The woman said the contents of the messages also caused her to be concerned for the well-being of Birtch's children.
"One of the messages mentioned his son and I was worried about his son living in the environment that he was describing."
The woman also testified her friendship with Birtch was helpful in her professional life.
The court also heard from Const. Kim Seward, a digital forensics examiner with the London Police Service.
She described arriving at the Woodstock residence of the woman who testified Tuesday to download audio recordings of voicemail messages and Facebook messages for the investigation.
Birtch served two terms as mayor before he was defeated in 2022 by Jerry Acchione.
The trial is scheduled to resume on Thursday.
Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.