WARNING: This story contains disturbing details involving the sexual abuse of children. The man accused of sexually assaulting three children in three different cities in the 1990s maintains he did not commit the crimes. Richard Neil testified in his own defence at his trial, which is being held before a judge and jury at the Brampton courthouse. Neil has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges related to the three attacks. His lawyer told the court Neil does not dispute that the incidents occurred, but denies he was the perpetrator. The first attack happened at Kitchener’s Idlewood Park in August 1992. An eight-year-old boy told police he was lured into a nearby wooded area, tied to a tree and sexually assaulted. The police investigation was dubbed “Project Woodland,” with the unknown attacker referred to as the “Woodland Rapist.” The incident was later linked by DNA evidence to two other similar attacks: one involving a 10-year-old boy at Norton Place Park in Brampton in September 1994, and another involving a 15-year-old girl at Oakville’s Wildwood Park in August 1995. Neil was arrested in British Columbia in March 2024 and charged in connection with all three attacks. On the stand, Neil told the court he did not even know of the three parks where the crimes happened. During cross-examination, the Crown questioned that claim, noting Neil grew up in Kitchener, where the first attack occurred, and had held various delivery jobs over the years. The Crown also noted that semen found in the Kitchener victim’s underwear was eventually matched to Neil’s DNA profile. “That’s a very unlucky coincidence for you,” Crown attorney Monica MacKenzie said. “It’s not my DNA. It’s not me,” Neil replied. The Crown also highlighted several similarities between the three attacks. All took place in parks, involved child victims who were threatened and tied with yellow rope, and included similar sexual acts, including forcing the victims to drink urine. Court has heard an agreed statement of facts indicating Neil has an interest in drinking urine. However, Neil testified that it was a fetish he developed around 2012 and that he has only participated in it with consenting adults. The Crown also pointed to evidence presented earlier in the trial that fingerprints matching Neil’s were found on various items at the scene of the Oakville attack. MacKenzie told Neil that, based on that evidence alone, “there’s no explanation other than you were the perpetrator.” “This is what I’m hearing, but I’m completely disagreeing with it,” Neil answered. The Crown also noted that semen matching Neil’s DNA was found on underwear used as a mask in the Oakville attack. “It’s not mine,” Neil replied. Neil testified that some descriptions of the attackers provided by witnesses did not match his appearance at the time. However, he agreed that other details, including a scar on the left side of his abdomen, were consistent with the descriptions. As his testimony wrapped up, Neil’s lawyer, Leo Adler, asked him directly: “Did you attack any of these children?” “No, I did not,” Neil answered. With Neil’s testimony complete, all evidence has now been presented at the trial. The jury was asked to return Wednesday for closing arguments from the Crown and the defence. The judge will then deliver her instructions to the jury. Justice Rosemarie Juginovic told jurors they can expect to begin deliberations Thursday.
