An educational assistant accused of assaulting a student with special needs took to the stand to give his version of what happened on a field trip two years ago.
Corey Stibbard took to the witness stand for the first time on Monday. He told the court that Riley Dooley, a student with autism, was being violent and aggressive after being told to put a toy back on the shelf, while at a Dollar Tree in 2014.
Stibbard said Dooley attacked him three times. The first two instances were unsuccessful, but the third time Stibbard said "he was angry and grimacing and he spun around and kicked out at me. I was trying to protect myself."
Stibbard said he blocked the kick with the top of his foot. Dooley took a step forward and fell to the ground. Stibbard thought at first it was just a sprain, but Dooley broke his tibia and fibula.
"There was blood everywhere and his bone was sticking out. I was really traumatized."
This was not the account Stibbard gave to ambulance attendants, the Dollar Tree store manager or school authorities. Stibbard initially told authorities Dooley tripped and fell.
When the Crown asked why, Stibbard said "I was afraid I would lose my job. I should have said exactly what happened that day."
Stibbard was working with the Simcoe County District School Board at the time of the alleged incident.
The Crown also focused on the recorded conversations between Stibbard and his colleague John Oostrum.
Oostrum testified Stibbard told him to put notes in his class book about Dooley falling before and having poor footwear.
This would have supported Stibbard's first story about the incident.
That led the crown to say "I suggest to you sir that you kicked Riley, and it wasn't a block."
The trial will take a three week break and will continue on July 21.
