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.
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Michael Kliman has had to survive over 5 years of stress, the loss of his reputation,
and the cost of over $500,000 in legal fees |
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Various lawyers earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from the case. |
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Survivors of real childhood abuse with continuing memories of that abuse have become
less credible in the eyes of the public. It is probable that fewer have come forward. |
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One of the accusers, who probably never was abused, now believes that she is a survivor
of multiple sexual assaults. Details have not emerged about how the other plaintiff
recovered her memories. |
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At least one therapist has earned money recovering probably false memories of abuse. |
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The province paid financial assistance to the two women on the basis of their claims of
abuse. The cost was born by the taxpayers of British Columbia. |
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As a result of the trials, the people of Canada believed for a time that sexual abuse in
the public schools is more prevalent that it is in reality. Some probably still do. |
