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The Ottawa Sun, Canada
August 10, 2005 Wednesday
FINAL EDITION
POLICE SAW NO SIGN OF ASSAULT, COURT TOLD;
WOMAN, EX-BEAU DROVE TO COP SHOP
BY DEREK PUDDICOMBE, OTTAWA SUN
A 39-YEAR-OLD Ottawa woman who said she feared for her life after
ending a relationship with her lover told court yesterday the man
had tried to pursue a romantic relationship 23 years earlier when
she was a teenager growing up in Armenia.
During her second day of testimony, Lillian Arakelyan, 39, said she
was 16 when Gagik Artsrunyan stalked and harassed her and made his
romantic intentions known but she rejected his advances.
Artsrunyan, who lives in Portland, Ore., is charged with assault,
two counts of criminal harassment, three counts of uttering threats
and forcible confinement.
Arakelyan disputed any suggestion by defence lawyer Rosalind Conway
she was the one who initiated any romantic involvement then or later.
"He was obsessed with me and harassed me," she said, of their
relationship in Armenia. "He would wait outside of home and work and
wait for me."
MET FOR COFFEE
Arakelyan, who arrived in Canada in 1998 to study at the University
of Ottawa, admitted to Conway that during those younger years she
met with Artsrunyan for coffee at least once.
During her two days of testimony, Arakelyan repeatedly told the court
she was beaten by the accused in her building's underground parking
lot after being dragged from her car and thrown in the back seat of
Artsrunyan's vehicle.
She said the assault came three months after she ended the
relationship.
During her cross-examination, Conway asked three officers who responded
to two separate incidents involving the former lovers if they had
noticed any bruising or evidence of assault.
"If that was the case, there would have been a different outcome,"
said Const. Chris O'Grady, denying he saw any visible marks the day
of the alleged assault.
On Monday, Arakelyan described that her former boyfriend arrived at
her Ottawa apartment from the U.S. and, after punching, kicking and
choking her, jumped into the back seat of her vehicle as she drove
to the Elgin St. police station.
Const. Trevor Archibald was at the police station the morning of Aug.
3, 2004 when the pair arrived.
Archibald told Conway during cross-examination he noticed Arakelyan
was "distraught" and obviously concerned Artsrunyan was in the city,
but didn't notice any visible signs of a brutal struggle.
None of the officers questioned testified to having documented any
sign of a physical assault on Arakelyan.
After retrieving some belongings from Arakelyan's residence,
officers told Artsrunyan not to have any further contact with his
former girlfriend.
The following day, Arakelyan called police again complaining Artsrunyan
had attempted on several occasions to contact her since being told
not to.
Police again retrieved some items Artsrunyan claimed Arakelyan had
and told him if he returned he would be arrested.
The trial continues in November.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
August 10, 2005 Wednesday
FINAL EDITION
POLICE SAW NO SIGN OF ASSAULT, COURT TOLD;
WOMAN, EX-BEAU DROVE TO COP SHOP
BY DEREK PUDDICOMBE, OTTAWA SUN
A 39-YEAR-OLD Ottawa woman who said she feared for her life after
ending a relationship with her lover told court yesterday the man
had tried to pursue a romantic relationship 23 years earlier when
she was a teenager growing up in Armenia.
During her second day of testimony, Lillian Arakelyan, 39, said she
was 16 when Gagik Artsrunyan stalked and harassed her and made his
romantic intentions known but she rejected his advances.
Artsrunyan, who lives in Portland, Ore., is charged with assault,
two counts of criminal harassment, three counts of uttering threats
and forcible confinement.
Arakelyan disputed any suggestion by defence lawyer Rosalind Conway
she was the one who initiated any romantic involvement then or later.
"He was obsessed with me and harassed me," she said, of their
relationship in Armenia. "He would wait outside of home and work and
wait for me."
MET FOR COFFEE
Arakelyan, who arrived in Canada in 1998 to study at the University
of Ottawa, admitted to Conway that during those younger years she
met with Artsrunyan for coffee at least once.
During her two days of testimony, Arakelyan repeatedly told the court
she was beaten by the accused in her building's underground parking
lot after being dragged from her car and thrown in the back seat of
Artsrunyan's vehicle.
She said the assault came three months after she ended the
relationship.
During her cross-examination, Conway asked three officers who responded
to two separate incidents involving the former lovers if they had
noticed any bruising or evidence of assault.
"If that was the case, there would have been a different outcome,"
said Const. Chris O'Grady, denying he saw any visible marks the day
of the alleged assault.
On Monday, Arakelyan described that her former boyfriend arrived at
her Ottawa apartment from the U.S. and, after punching, kicking and
choking her, jumped into the back seat of her vehicle as she drove
to the Elgin St. police station.
Const. Trevor Archibald was at the police station the morning of Aug.
3, 2004 when the pair arrived.
Archibald told Conway during cross-examination he noticed Arakelyan
was "distraught" and obviously concerned Artsrunyan was in the city,
but didn't notice any visible signs of a brutal struggle.
None of the officers questioned testified to having documented any
sign of a physical assault on Arakelyan.
After retrieving some belongings from Arakelyan's residence,
officers told Artsrunyan not to have any further contact with his
former girlfriend.
The following day, Arakelyan called police again complaining Artsrunyan
had attempted on several occasions to contact her since being told
not to.
Police again retrieved some items Artsrunyan claimed Arakelyan had
and told him if he returned he would be arrested.
The trial continues in November.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress