WARNING: This story contains details of alleged sexual assaults. Two clients of a former Saskatoon massage therapist testified at his sexual assault trial about appointments they say left them feeling exposed and vulnerable. Kenneth Braun, 70, is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of a youth while in a position of trust or authority. The allegations span from 1996 to 2022. The women cannot be identified due to a publication ban. A 36-year-old woman testified she suffered from severe back pain and sore hips and had been seeing massage therapists for years before a friend referred her to Braun. She said Braun told her at the start of the appointment to speak up if she didn’t like what he was doing. She testified Braun pulled down her underwear, leaving her feeling exposed and causing her body to freeze. She said he massaged her buttocks and moved his fingers between her legs. The woman told the jury she panicked and was afraid to leave or speak up because she didn’t know how Braun would react. She also testified Braun asked whether she had used a vibrator before, then took out a vibrating massage tool and used it between her buttocks and legs. She testified Braun later asked her to turn over for a head and shoulder massage, but she refused. She said he appeared surprised by her response. At the end of the appointment, Braun pulled up her underwear and commented that it was wet, then said it was because of the lotion, she testified. The woman said she reported the incident to police the next day. Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle questioned the woman about her state of mind and whether she expressed any concerns during the appointment. She said she was somewhat anxious because Braun was a new massage therapist. She agreed she never explicitly told Braun to stop. Asked about Braun’s demeanour after the appointment, she said he discussed future treatments. She added that she didn’t think she appeared distressed, but was in a hurry to leave. The jury also heard from another former client, who said her pastor referred her to Braun for lower back pain caused by a medical condition called lumbar stenosis. She testified Braun told her to get completely naked before the treatment and held the drape in a way that allowed him to see her breasts as she turned over during the massage. She said she returned for about five more treatments because she had never had a massage before and didn’t know what was normal. During her last appointment, she testified, Braun told her to separate her legs. She said his fingers touched part of her vagina. At first, she thought it was an accident, she testified, but said he did it a second time. She said she stopped seeing Braun after that and came forward years later when she heard about the charges. The trial resumes Monday, with two more former clients and other Crown witnesses expected to testify.
