Magda returns to Kitchener court in sexual assault trial

Daniel Magda of Kitchener, Ont., who is accused of a number of sexual offences, is seen in this undated handout photo.

Closing arguments were read at the trial of Daniel Magda, who is facing nearly 20 charges, including sexual assault and making child pornography.

Magda has pleaded guilty to seven of the charges, but not guilty to ten others.

He has admitted to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy, who was ten at the time, and a second boy who was three-years-old at the time.

The 11-year-old has told the court Magda was like a father to him, but then things changed.

In 2007 Magda was convicted of assaulting three boys, including Debbie Farrow’s son.

Farrow is speaking out about her disappointment now that a publication ban on her son’s case was lifted.

“It was very frustrating to know that it happened again, it’s really hard…The parole board let him out after seven months, so that doesn’t make any sense to me.”

In the current case, a major disagreement has arisen over the timeframe of the alleged incidents.

While the prosecution alleges the assaults occurred in at least three locations over a prolonged period of time, the defence disagrees.

Magda’s lawyer Bruce Ritter says “There’s been guilty pleas to a number of charges essentially acknowledging sexual activity over a relatively brief period of time between two individuals.”

Ritter is pressing the court to discount some of the allegations, suggesting there are inconsistencies and contradictions in the testimony.

“It’s always a serious matter, but if it had gone on for a longer period of time and had occurred more frequently it is deserving of a great punishment so it is on that basis that we are arguing that the specific time frame and frequency was very limited.”

Whatever the courts decided on the charges, Farrow is hoping for a lengthy sentence.

“Now you’ve got two more victims that have to deal with this for the rest of their lives and its not easy for them.”

Final submissions by the Crown and defence on the seven as well as victim impact statements are expected on Nov. 28, with sentencing to follow at a later date.