Daniel Lacasse: Former Montreal-area basketball coach on trial for sexual exploitation [Video]

A victim testified at the Montreal courthouse on the first day of the sexual exploitation trial of former St-Laurent High School basketball coach Daniel Lacasse.

Lacasse, 45, is one of three teachers who were arrested in 2022 for allegedly sexually exploiting students 12 years prior.

The court heard a woman’s testimony saying she first met Lacasse when she was 12.

At first, she said, her basketball skills quickly progressed as she made her way through high school. But by the time she reached secondary three, the woman testified Lacasse became overly intense.

She told the court the coach was verbally and physically abusive toward players — calling them sexist names, physically punishing them, angrily throwing objects around the locker room and ridiculing immigrant students.

The plaintiff testified that she still grew close to her coach, who paid her medical bills, took her to appointments and even attended her physiotherapy appointments.

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