A civil lawsuit has been launched against the Ā鶹¾«Ń” RCMP officer at the centre of a controversial interrogation of an Indigenous woman who reported a sexual assault in 2012.
The woman, who was 17 at the time, is now suing Cpl. Kenneth Hall, as well as B.C.ās Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada, in a civil suit that the claims the interrogation was ābrutal, degrading and dehumanizing.ā
She originally went to police in Ā鶹¾«Ń” to report a sexual assault, but was instead interrogated for more than two hours.
In a video made public in May, Hall can be heard asking the young woman if she was āat all turned onā during the sexual assault she was reporting. The claim contends he breached her constitutional rights.
READ MORE: RCMP launch āfulsome reviewā into 2012 Ā鶹¾«Ń” interrogation of sex assault victim
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the interrogation techniques shown in the video āabhorrentā while Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett called them ādisgusting.ā
The woman, not publicly identified because of her age at the time of the incident, is seeking damages, claiming the interrogation caused her serious injuries including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and attempted suicide.
Court documents say she is still affected by the injuries, which led to permanent disability and the loss of past and future income.
The womenās claims have yet to be proven in court.
READ MORE: Ā鶹¾«Ń” RCMP under fire after video shows officer interrogating Indigenous girl who reported sex assault
Hall has not spoken publicly about his actions in 2012 and, according to RCMP, is not available for media interviews.
But RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan released a statement earlier this month commenting on the interrogation.
āWe agree that on the surface this case doesnāt appear to align with public expectations or the current standards and practices in place when addressing sex assault investigations and supporting victims,ā said Strachan in her statement.
