Complainant attracted to bus drivers

The complainant in the sexual assault trial of city bus driver Mike Linkie has a leaning toward bus drivers, a psychiatrist testified Thursday.

Dr. Jean-Guy Gagnon was qualified as an expert in forensic psychiatry by Justice Paul Rivard, who is the judge in the Linkie trial.

Half of Gagnon’s practice deals with forensic psychiatry, which is diagnosing patients medically for legal use.

Gagnon, the court heard, was hired in late 2001 by Cst. Helen Kent, the investigating office of the case, to determine whether or not the complainant, who’s name cannot be published due to a court-ordered ban, was capable of consenting to sexual activity.

Gagnon interviewed the complainant and submitted a report to police on February 20, 2002, the court heard, explaining that the complainant showed symptoms of “post traumatic stress disorder” and was “clearly not functioning" at a normal age level.

The complainant filed her complaint against Linkie on Jan. 30, 2002.

“(The complainant) has a primitive understanding of sexual activity,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon explained that because the complainant is “developmentally delayed,” she would have difficulty consenting to sex.

“She’s easily exploited,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon told the court that the complainant has difficulty turning down sexual acts because she fears angering whomever makes such a proposal.

“If a man asked, you’d have to say yes,” Gagnon read from his report.

Gagnon went on to explain that the complainant is somewhat “infatuated” with bus drivers.

“The term bus driver groupie may apply,” Gagnon said.

Linkie's name was never mentioned uring Gagnon’s assessment of the complainant or in his report.

The complainant's stepmother also testified Thursday.

She explained that around the time of the complainant’s alleged encounters with Linkie, the complainant showed “changes in behavior,” and had an increase in mood swings and became aggressive.

“She would sit on the couch and cry at night,” the stepmother said.

“She would have nightmares.”

The stepmother also testified that the complainant would lie about where she had been or who she was with.

“She wasn’t a leader, she was a follower,” the step mother said.

The stepmother explained that the complainant was aware that she was developmentally challenged and would use it to her advantage.

“She played me and her father against each other,” the step mother explained.

The trial is set to continue Friday, with the defense presenting its side of the case