Halifax sleepwatching trial focuses on identity

A young woman who was the victim of the so-called Halifax sleepwatcher did not identify the man accused of the crime during the second day of the trial.

Barry Sinclair, 50, is charged with five counts of voyeurism. He's accused of breaking into several houses in the city's south end in incidents that span several years.

In court Tuesday, the 22–year–old victim testified she woke up to find a man in her bedroom. He was crouched down, and she saw deep-set eyes starting at her. She said his mouth was open.

The woman, who cannot be identified, screamed a profanity and the man silently and calmly left her room.

The woman described the suspected as being in his late twenties, and she was unable to pick out Sinclair's photo from a police lineup.

Sinclair was 49–years–old at the time of his arrest on Sept. 15, 2011. Sinclair now looks different, but a year ago, he was a lean man with his hair cropped. He had a tattooed, muscular upper body.

Sinclair was arrested just one hour after the woman said she saw a man in her room.

As for the victim, she said the experience was so traumatic she had to move out.

"I moved out a couple of weeks after," she told reporters. "Which obviously sucked when you move out of a house with your four best friends. But I felt a lot more secure and comfortable so it was a good decision."

Clothing colour discussed

The issue of identification emerged with other crown witnesses.

Halifax Regional police Const. Karen Misner testified that police were on the look out for a suspect, wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt. Sinclair was arrested while wearing a dark hoodie.

Bernard Stone, who eventually led police to Sinclair, said he saw a man in a dark, baggy hoodie, who was sweating, and looking confused.

The trial began Monday, with the police introducing DNA evidence. It's expected to last five days.

Sinclair has been in custody since his arrest last Sept.

More than a dozen women in Halifax's south end have reported waking up to find a stranger watching or touching them in recent years.