Checkmite
Skepticifimisticalationist
Canadian couple Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman were captured by the Taliban after having entered Afghanistan in 2011, several different reasons for their presence there having been given by Boyle since their return. While in captivity, the couple had three children. They were released and returned to Canada in October of 2017. Two months later, Joshua Boyle was arrested by Ottawa police and charged with 19 different criminal counts, including assault, sexual assault, and unlawful imprisonment. The alleged victim in 17 of those charges is his wife; the identity of the victim of the other two charges is sealed by the court.
The night of Boyle's arrest began when he called 911 to report that his wife had run from their hotel room screaming, inadequately dressed from the cold, and was "suicidal". He emphasized that she had a personality disorder and might say things that shouldn't be trusted.
At Boyle's trial, which began this week, the arresting officer recounted his first meeting with Boyle:
In the middle of the officer's testimony, Boyle jumped from his seat and attempted to flee the courtroom, but was unsuccessful.
According to Caitlan Coleman, Boyle was a physically and emotionally abusive husband even before the two traveled to Afghanistan - she having been compelled to come with him because he wanted to "meet the Taliban" as he felt they were being portrayed unfairly by western press. She says the physical abuse occurred even in the midst of their captivity by the Taliban, and describes beatings, death threats, and humilation. There came a point where she was given only 30 minutes a day to spend with the couple's children, commanded by him to spend the rest of her time in their holding room's bathroom because he could no longer stand to look at her. She says she was told she had to address their toddler children as "sir" or "madam", to emphasize the fact that she was beneath them.
According to Coleman the abuse continued once they were released and returned to Ottawa. During one such abusive episode, in which Coleman alleges she was made to strip naked to prevent her from leaving and force-fed Boyle's antidepressant pills, she finally burst from the hotel room and ran to that of her mother, who was also in Ottawa to visit the couple.
Boyle opted for a no-jury trial and presumably will be testifying next week.
The night of Boyle's arrest began when he called 911 to report that his wife had run from their hotel room screaming, inadequately dressed from the cold, and was "suicidal". He emphasized that she had a personality disorder and might say things that shouldn't be trusted.
At Boyle's trial, which began this week, the arresting officer recounted his first meeting with Boyle:
In the middle of the officer's testimony, Boyle jumped from his seat and attempted to flee the courtroom, but was unsuccessful.
According to Caitlan Coleman, Boyle was a physically and emotionally abusive husband even before the two traveled to Afghanistan - she having been compelled to come with him because he wanted to "meet the Taliban" as he felt they were being portrayed unfairly by western press. She says the physical abuse occurred even in the midst of their captivity by the Taliban, and describes beatings, death threats, and humilation. There came a point where she was given only 30 minutes a day to spend with the couple's children, commanded by him to spend the rest of her time in their holding room's bathroom because he could no longer stand to look at her. She says she was told she had to address their toddler children as "sir" or "madam", to emphasize the fact that she was beneath them.
According to Coleman the abuse continued once they were released and returned to Ottawa. During one such abusive episode, in which Coleman alleges she was made to strip naked to prevent her from leaving and force-fed Boyle's antidepressant pills, she finally burst from the hotel room and ran to that of her mother, who was also in Ottawa to visit the couple.
Boyle opted for a no-jury trial and presumably will be testifying next week.
