A former teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student was in the hot seat Friday, as the Crown had the chance to cross-examine her testimony from the previous day.
Mary Gowans, 42, has been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old boy.
The teenager, who is now 18 and cannot be identified due to a publication ban, has testified that he used to babysit for Gowans and go jogging with her. Their relationship included sexual touching, kissing and hundreds of text messages, he told the court.
On Thursday, Gowans took the stand in her own defence, saying that the student fabricated a story about their relationship after he groped her and she turned him down.
On Friday, the Crown questioned Gowans about the unusual amount of time she spent with the teen, and asked what her husband of 17 years thought about the relationship.
“It must have been difficult for your husband. It didn’t improve your relationship,” the Crown said.
Gowans’ husband left her shortly after she was arrested at their family home four years ago.
“My husband never expressed concern over the time,” Gowans replied to the Crown.
The Crown pressed Gowans, asking if she had ever told her husband about the amount of time she was spending with the former student.
“I may have. I didn’t keep it from him,” Gowans replied.
The Crown asked what friends would have thought.
“Your husband never said, ‘What would our friends say about it?’” asked the Crown.
Gowans said that question never came up.
The former student testified that he and Gowans would speak about personal topics, including surgery she had undergone and her breast implants.
Those conversations did not happen, Gowans said. She also said that she did not know how the former student knew about her breast implants.
The trial continues Monday.
With files from CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney
