Former students allege kissing, spanking by Johnny Meeko

Three women in their late 20s testified Tuesday that former Nunavut teacher Johnny Meeko put his hand up their shirts and touched their chests while he was their Grade 3 teacher at Sanikiluaq's elementary school.

Meeko, 61, has pleaded not guilty to 32 sex-related charges including assault, sexual assault and sexual interference. The offences are alleged to have been committed during his decades-long career at Nuiyak Elementary School.

One of the complainants said when Meeko was her teacher, he would keep her in the classroom while other students went to gym class. 

• 1st witnesses in Johnny Meeko trial allege classroom sex assaults

She testified he would turn off the lights, cover the window of the classroom door then proceed to touch her chest. She said Meeko told her "God would cut off my tongue" if she told anyone.

Another complainant said Meeko touched her inappropriately during a Grade 3 detention, then again when she was 14 years old. On that occasion, she said Meeko touched her after she came out of the bathroom one weekend while at the school during a target practice session as a member of the Junior Rangers. Meeko had been there supervising.

'Birthday spankings'

A third complainant testified that on her ninth birthday in his Grade 3 class, Meeko sat her on his lap and gave her "birthday spankings" in front of her classmates.

On another occasion, she said Meeko kissed her on the lips as a punishment for being the last student in the class to finish her work.

The Crown is expected to call two more complainants to testify on Wednesday. Nine complainants have been flown to Iqaluit from Sanikiluaq to testify. 

Meeko has been out on bail since July 2013 and living in Iqaluit.