76-year-old Vernon man guilty of sexually assaulting widow

CONTENT ADVISORY

A 76-year-old Vernon man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting the widowed wife of an old friend.

Keith John Denley denied what took place but said he had no memory of the events and attributed them to a medical episode, possibly a minor heart attack.

However, at the Vernon Courthouse, April 29, BC Provincial Court Judge David Patterson found Denley had grabbed the widow by the wrist, pulled her into a bedroom, exposed his penis and demanded oral sex.

Surrounded by a small group of supporters, the 70-year-old victim burst into tears when the judge read out his verdict.

The incident dates back to 2022, a year after the victim’s husband had died.

Denley had been a friend of her husband’s when they lived on the Sunshine Coast, and since being widowed, the victim had socialized with Denley and his wife on numerous occasions.

On the day in question, Denley had dropped by one afternoon, and the two had sat on her deck.

He’d already shared a bottle of wine with another friend and continued to drink scotch at the victim’s house.

After several drinks, he grabbed the 70-year-old by the wrist and led her through the house to a bedroom where they both tripped over onto a bed. He then exposed himself and, in a “loud, fierce, demanding tone,” demanded oral sex. He grabbed her hand and forced her to touch his penis.

The victim testified she “turned into a lion,” jumped up from the mattress and yelled at him. She went to the kitchen and made some strong coffee.

Denley got in his car, but realizing how much he’d drunk, the victim didn’t want him to drive. She managed to grab his keys, and following an argument, the two went back into the house.

They sat in silence at the kitchen table for two hours drinking coffee before Denley left.

Denley’s version of events was very different.

He said he had two one-ounce pours of whiskey, but only had a sip from a third glass.

“After taking one sip of the third glass of scotch, then he testified he felt immediate chest pains followed by dizziness and nausea. He described becoming increasingly unwell and having difficulty speaking. He testified he put his hands to his head to support. He has no memory of what happened next,” the judge said. 

He said he had no memory of grabbing her wrist, or moving to the bedroom or anything else that occurred. Weighing 260 lb., he did admit it would be impossible for the victim to carry him to the bedroom.

“He explicitly stated he had no intention to touch (the victim) sexually at any time and had never had such an intention,” the Judge said.

He said he gained consciousness and had no idea of what had happened.

Denley didn’t call his wife or seek medical attention, and he admitted he sat there for two hours drinking coffee and not talking.

A few days later, he flew to Europe.

The following year, he was diagnosed with serious heart issues, and doctors said he had previously at some point had a heart attack.

He believes the episode was a heart attack.

Judge Patterson said there were problems with the evidence from both sides.

The victim had contradicted herself on numerous occasions, from the length of time the incident took place to whether she had an alcoholic drink or not.

The judge also pointed out that the victim admitted to discussing the case during a five-month adjournment of the trial, even though she had been told not to.

“I have no doubt that Mr. Denley’s behaviour is something that he would not normally do. However, giving him the benefit of the doubt that he could not remember what happened… there is no evidence to contradict that of (the victim),” the judge said. “On the key points of, did he grab her wrist and pull her into the… room, did he yell the words, ‘suck my cock,’ and did he expose his flaccid penis and have her hand touch it. On those three key points, I accept (the victim’s) evidence.”

Denley will be sentenced at a later date.

NOTE TO READERS: To connect with a victim service program or violence against women program call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808. VictimLink BC provides information and referrals to all victims, as well as immediate crisis response to victims of sexual and family violence.