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Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

Group home manager's sex assault trial begins

By: Mike McIntyre

Tuesday, May. 29, 2012 at 8:29 AM

The former assistant manager of a Winnipeg group home is fighting allegations he sexually assaulted two young employees he was training.

Olayemi Fatunmbi appeared in court Monday for the start of his jury trial. He has pleaded not guilty to molesting two women in 2008. None of the allegations have been proven and he is presumed innocent.

Crown attorney Rustyn Ullrich told jurors they will hear testimony from both alleged victims, who claim they were separately attacked over a four-day span while working the night shift at the home for mentally and physically challenged adults.

Fatunmbi, who was their immediate supervisor on both nights, "began acting in ways that were anything but professional," according to Ullrich.

"Things turned from disturbing, unprofessional and a nuisance... into criminal acts," he said.

In the first case, Fatunmbi allegedly attacked the woman inside an office by groping and fondling her. In the second alleged incident, Fatunmbi is accused of removing part of the victim's clothing and attempting to force intercourse only to have her fight him off and flee.

The two women didn't immediately go to police but eventually learned of each other's experience with Fatunmbi before coming forward, jurors were told.

Fatunmbi may testify in his own defence, Ulrich said. The trial is scheduled to last seven days.

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