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Canadian court acquits ex-Taliban hostage on charges of abusing his American wife Canadian court acquits ex-Taliban hostage on charges of abusing his American wife
(about 3 hours later)
OTTAWA — A Canadian court on Thursday acquitted former Taliban hostage Joshua Boyle of multiple charges of abusing his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, marking another dramatic turn in the saga of a couple who spent five grueling years as militant captives.OTTAWA — A Canadian court on Thursday acquitted former Taliban hostage Joshua Boyle of multiple charges of abusing his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, marking another dramatic turn in the saga of a couple who spent five grueling years as militant captives.
Judge Peter Doody ruled that prosecutors were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boyle was guilty on 19 charges including assault, harassment, sexual assault and forcible confinement.Judge Peter Doody ruled that prosecutors were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boyle was guilty on 19 charges including assault, harassment, sexual assault and forcible confinement.
The couple was captured in Afghanistan in 2012 and had three children while held by Taliban-linked militants, mostly in Pakistan. After they were freed and returned to Canada in 2017, Coleman alleged that Boyle had abused her during and after their captivity. The couple was captured after traveling to Afghanistan under disputed circumstances in 2012 and held by the hard-line Haqqani network, mostly in Pakistan, where they had three children in captivity. After they were freed and returned to Canada in 2017, Coleman alleged that Boyle had abused her during and after their captivity.
Boyle, who has been under house arrest and appeared in court with his family, remained mostly impassive as Doody read out his verdict over more than three hours. Coleman, who lives in the United States with the couple’s four children, did not attend.Boyle, who has been under house arrest and appeared in court with his family, remained mostly impassive as Doody read out his verdict over more than three hours. Coleman, who lives in the United States with the couple’s four children, did not attend.
The trial focused on the period from October through December 2017, between the couple's arrival in Canada and Coleman's departure from their shared apartment after what she said were episodes of abuse.The trial focused on the period from October through December 2017, between the couple's arrival in Canada and Coleman's departure from their shared apartment after what she said were episodes of abuse.
American woman gave birth as Taliban hostage. Now she seeks to end her mystery.American woman gave birth as Taliban hostage. Now she seeks to end her mystery.
Explaining his decision, Doody said he had questions about the credibility of both Boyle and Coleman. While he said he concluded that Boyle had "animus" toward his wife and treated her in a "cruel" and "demeaning" manner, he said the evidence against him had not been conclusive. Explaining his decision, Doody said he had questions about the credibility of both Boyle and Coleman. While he said he concluded that Boyle had "animus" toward his wife and treated her in a "cruel, demeaning and controlling" manner, he said the evidence against him had not been conclusive.
The trial shone a light on an intimate relationship that was unorthodox and frequently antagonistic before, during and after their long captivity.The trial shone a light on an intimate relationship that was unorthodox and frequently antagonistic before, during and after their long captivity.
Neither Boyle nor Coleman made any immediate comment. In nearly nine months of court proceedings, Coleman and Boyle presented wildly different characterizations of each other. Coleman described what she said was overbearing and manipulative behavior throughout their relationship and, beginning during their time in captivity, physical abuse.
In nearly nine months of court proceedings, punctuated by several long breaks, Coleman and Boyle presented wildly different characterizations of each other. Coleman described what she said was controlling and manipulative behavior throughout their relationship and, beginning during their time as captives, physical abuse. Boyle meanwhile said Coleman was unstable and prone to emotional and physical outbursts.
The couple met through an online Star Wars forum in 2002 and married in 2011. They traveled to Afghanistan the following year — under disputed circumstances — when Coleman was six months pregnant with their first child. They were abducted shortly afterward and taken to Pakistan, where they were held by the Haqqani network. Boyle’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, told reporters after the verdict that his client was “extremely pleased and relieved” with the result, which he hoped was Boyle’s “first step” to gaining access and eventual custody of the couple’s four children. He noted that Boyle hasn’t seen his three eldest children for almost two years and has never met their youngest child, who was born after Coleman returned to the United States with the other children.
Boyle said Coleman was unstable and prone to emotional and physical outbursts. A family court had given Coleman temporary sole custody of the children, pending the results of the criminal trial. Her husband will now presumably seek to have that ruling overturned.
The judge said that Coleman was inconsistent in her statements to authorities and in her evidence before the court and that she admitted to memory blackouts, particularly when referring to traumatic events. Boyle, who has been living with his parents under court supervision, is expected to have his electronic ankle bracelet removed.
It was not immediately clear whether government lawyers, who made no statements following the ruling, intend to appeal. Ian Carter, Coleman’s personal lawyer, described his client as “devastated” by the ruling, saying she would need time to process the decision.
“I think the case is an example of the challenges that a complainant faces in coming forward with allegations of sexual assault or domestic violence in terms of how things operated in our justice system,” Carter told reporters.
The case focused in part on the couple’s history of consensual intimacy, including acts of bondage, sadomasochism and domination, which represented an additional challenge for the government as it sought to prove sexual abuse.
In his ruling, Doody cited numerous instances that he said generated concerns about both Boyle and Coleman’s credibility. He said Boyle had characterized things differently at different moments though the trial, including a handwritten list that Coleman said contained demands her husband had made of her regarding her weight and the couple’s sexual activity.
The judge said that Coleman, meanwhile, was inconsistent in her statements to authorities and in her evidence, and that she admitted to memory blackouts, particularly when referring to traumatic events.
Isabel Grant, a professor at the Allard School of Law at University of British Columbia and a specialist in domestic violence, said the result reflected the limits of Canadian law in dealing with sexual assault, especially involving women in long-term abusive relationships.
“This woman did her best to give honest testimony and to acknowledge things she wasn't sure about or couldn't answer,” Grant said. And the unfortunate result was that “just the fact of her trauma and struggles with mental health led this judge to find her not persuasive.”
The judge also weighed in on other elements of the trial, including testimony from a Canadian government official who accompanied the family on their flight back to Canada following their release. She testified that Boyle had acted in an abusive and threatening manner on that trip. Doody said he found the incident implausible and asserted it could not have occurred.
He also said he believed Boyle had in many instances acted to control his wife but said it had not been proved he did so in a way that made her fear for her safety.
Doody also took issue with Coleman’s decision to grant a number of media interviews, including to The Washington Post.
Ryan reported from Washington.Ryan reported from Washington.