Custodial dad, step on trial for torture of 11-year-old son (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

UNNAMED DAD. No word as to what happened to this boy's mother.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-mountie-wife-continue-trial-on-severe-child-abuse-1.3226475

Ottawa Mountie, wife continue trial on severe child abuse

WARNING: Story contains graphic and disturbing details
CBC News Posted: Sep 13, 2015 4:47 PM ET
Last Updated: Sep 14, 2015 7:26 PM ET

An Ottawa Mountie and his wife were arrested in 2013 in what police called the "worst case of abuse police have seen."

An Ottawa woman told police "I haven't done anything" after she and her RCMP officer husband were accused of severe long-term abuse of the man's 11-year-old son, including chaining him up in the basement of their home, court heard Monday.

The woman, 36, and man, 44, are on trial for what Ottawa police called the "worst case of abuse police have seen" when they were arrested in February 2013. They cannot be named to protect the boy's identity.

Each is on trial for aggravated assault, forcible confinement and failing to provide the necessaries of life.

The woman is also charged with assaulting the child with a weapon, while the man is charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

On Monday, court saw the woman's police interview via video, which was taken after her arrest. She told police her 11-year-old stepson was "out of control" and that she feared for the safety of her toddler and four-month-old baby.

She said she never hit the boy nor was she aware of his many injuries, including burn marks near his genitals, scabs and scars on his body and that he was gaunt and malnourished.

At one point, Ottawa Police Sgt. Tracy Butler told her in a raised voice the boy was "maltreated and abused by your husband."

She added, "you knew about it, you condoned it and you let it happen."

The woman, who was at times emotional during the interview, said, "I haven't done anything. I swear to God."

Father admitted to confining son During the interview, which lasted more than two hours, the woman told police her stepson was stealing and getting into fights.

She said he was sent to private school after being kicked out of school, but the boy began being home schooled in 2012.

She said the boy was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and oppositional defiant disorder and prescribed anti-psychotic medication.

She also said she worried he had sexual feelings for her after he asked her to breastfeed him.

"(He) didn't attach to me. I love him but it was difficult to reach out to him when he's mocking me all the time," she said.

She also said he told his father he would "initiate sexual things with other boys" at school and camp.

Last week, the court heard the man admit he used a chain and plastic ties to confine his son in the family's Kanata basement in his police interview video.

In 2013, the RCMP said the father has been on leave since May 2011, but the reason for that remains under a court-ordered publication ban.

Police sources previously told CBC News the man was a member of the force's counter-terrorism unit.

The trial continues.