RICHMOND, BC, CANADA, SEXUAL ABUSE CASE
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This case appears to have been based on false memories, like other abuse cases described in this Web site. However, these memories
were not accidentally implanted in children by over-eager and uninformed investigators.
Rather, the false memories of childhood sexual abuse appear to have been
"recovered" by adult women in their late 20's as the result of therapy or
self-hypnosis. The case did not involve ritual abuse. We believe that it could have, if
the case had developed differently.
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Michael Kliman, aged 48 in 1998-JAN, is an educator. He worked first as a teacher. For
18 years, he was a vice-principal. On 1992-OCT-2, he was arrested and charged with the
sexual abuse of two students in 1975, when the alleged victims were in Grade 6. His
accusers were in their late 20's at the time of the charges.
At first, Kliman thought that the case would be dismissed because of the unreasonable
nature of the charges. One woman claimed that the abuse occurred in a specific room. But
the room was built many years after she had left the school. Other abuse allegedly
occurred in a highly visible location in the school, where there was a strong likelihood
that any perpetrator would be seen. Kliman was accused of leaving his classroom several
times a week in order to abuse the children. He taught at the time in a large open space
where he and another teacher handled two classes. Yet nobody, other than his accusers,
noticed his absence. In addition, the women's stories changed on several occasions and
conflicted with earlier statements that they had made.
One of his accusers had received five years of intensive psychiatric treatment without
any indication of childhood sexual abuse. Later, a different therapist was able to
"recover" repressed memories of abuse. An investigating officer repeatedly
called one of the plaintiffs until her memory improved.
Kliman was found guilty of abuse at his first trial in 1994-JAN. He appealed. At his
second trial in 1996-OCT, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. On 1997-DEC, a
third trial was held before the British Columbia Supreme Court. He was found not guilty
because of the inconsistencies and improbabilities in his accusers' testimony. The trial
judge did not base the acquittal on the issue of repressed memory. In Canada, the crown
(government) can appeal an acquittal if there was serious violations of trial procedures.
None were found in this case, so that verdict stands. Mr. Kliman has not yet decided
whether to initiate a civil case against his accusers.
It is probable that any similar case which were to begin today would never get to
court. A growing consensus among mental health professionals is
that childhood memories of serious abuse (particularly repeated abuse) may be blended
together and may have some of their details lost. But they are rarely if ever
repressed. They are either always present, or are forgotten over time and cannot be
reliably be recovered through therapy.
