Judge gives B.C. father in child abuse case more time to appeal ruling

VANCOUVER – A British Columbia father at the centre of a high-profile child abuse case will have more time to appeal a court decision where a judge ruled the man molested his kids.

The man, who cannot be named, has asked for more time to file an appeal of a 2012 family case, saying the judge who ruled on the case relied on faulty expert evidence.

He alleges that an expert witness who testified at the trial committed fraud by being dishonest about her qualifications.

Claire Reeves told the court her qualifications included a doctorate in clinical counselling, a masters degree in clinical psychology and bachelors degrees in family mediation and journalism, but the man’s lawyer says those degrees appear to be from “diploma mills.”

Justice Elizabeth Bennett granted the man an extension, saying in her written decision that there is new evidence that could merit an appeal.

The man’s case made headlines last summer when a judge ruled social workers allowed him unsupervised visits with his children despite a court order imposed to prevent him from molesting his children.