Defence at sex assault trial suggests complainant sought a romantic relationship with her former McMaster professor

Defence counsel's questioning during cross-examination Monday centred on a text-message exchange between a McMaster University student and her former professor, Scott Watter.

The student has alleged she was assaulted repeatedly by Watter over a period of several months in 2017.

Watter, 48, is charged with sexual assault and sexual assault causing bodily harm. He has pleaded not guilty.

The judge-only trial began May 17 before Justice Amanda Camara.

The complainant, a PhD student in the university's Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB), cannot be identified due to a publication ban.

In trial, which resumed Monday after being adjourned for several weeks, defence lawyer Jeffrey Manishen read through several pages of text messages between Watter and the victim following the first alleged assault, an unwanted kiss on the piano bench in Watter and his wife's basement in April of 2017.

Manishen, who is representing Watter, pointed out that she sent him a picture of her drinking a beer, described to him her sassy" personality and engaged in a conversation about BDSM - all within 48 hours of the kiss.

In one exchange, she sent him a picture of a body bearing incisions she retrieved from the internet. She told him it wasn't her and that she had a nicer body."

I'm going to suggest to you ... that's because you were interested in an intimate relationship with Dr. Watter arising from the kiss," Manishen said.

I don't believe so," she replied. I do know I was very confused at the time. Things were very mixed up ... I don't remember writing this, but I clearly did."

Manishen reads some back-and-forth over text about BDSM, an acronym for sexual practices such as bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism, including specific practices and preferences. Watter discusses his BDSM relationship with another McMaster student.

How much of a masochistic streak do you have?" Watter had asked in a text message.

She replied: Fairly strong."

Manishen asked her at trial if that was the truth.

I was in a very dark place," the victim said. I wanted to be hurt at that time."

In the context of BDSM activity?" Manishen pressed.

In any context," she replied.

She said repeatedly that she sent the texts because she was confused" about the nature of their relationship and Watter's two versions": a mentor/friend and the man who assaulted her.

Manishen suggested instead that the exchange was consistent with you wanting to have an intimate relationship with Dr. Watter."

In the same two-day period, she also sent him songs about dark mental health stuff," including suicide, she testified.

She previously testified that Watter was aware of her struggle with mental health and had been a mentor and confidant.

Earlier on Monday, Manishen pressed the witness on inconsistencies around a possible fifth assault" - one that she shared in an interview with then-Spectator reporter Katrina Clarke, but not with police.

At some point in the fall of 2017, after several alleged assaults during the spring and summer, she contacted Watter and asked him to come over. At that point, she had limited contact" with Watter on campus and at department events.

She told police she confronted him about his relationships with other students - who she was worried about," she told the court - and she became angry and raised her hand to slap him. He stopped her by catching her wrist and left.

But, in an interview with the Spectator, she recounted that he started kissing me and making out with me and I pushed him off" and he caught my arms, he pushed me down and started yelling at me," said Manishen, reading from the transcript.

She told the court on Monday she may have conflated two incidents. Throughout the trial, she has testified that her memory around that time is fuzzy" as a result of the traumatic events.

It's possible that the details of one are getting mixed up with the details of another," she said.

The trial continues July 26.

If you are a survivor of sexual violence and need support, please see the resources below:

SACHA Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area: 24-hour support line 905-525-4162; www.sacha.ca.

McMaster University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office: svpro@mcmaster.ca; svpro.mcmaster.ca.

McMaster Students Union Women and Gender Equity Network (WGEN): wgen@msu.mcmaster.ca; msumcmaster.ca/service/wgen.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com