Ex-wife peppered on stand

The question of whether a former Vernon RCMP officer downloaded and possessed child porn versus whether his wife, a fellow officer, put it there to frame him, continued in Kelowna court, Tuesday.

Defence counsel completed cross-examination of the Crown's first witness – the accused's ex-wife, Valerie Little.

Defence spent hours both Monday and Tuesday picking apart her statements to police and her testimony, versions of events defence counsel Jason Tarnow said are “rife with inconsistencies.”

They allege Little made up the entire story, downloaded the pornography herself and placed it on the laptop to frame Ryan Hampton. 

Little turned a flash drive over to police containing 62 images and three videos of child porn that she said she found in their home. Hampton was arrested the next day.

He faces nine counts, including two of possessing and accessing child pornography, six counts of breach of undertaking for contacting his ex-wife when ordered not to, and one count of attempting to obstruct justice by allegedly telling her not to contact police.

The defence hopes to prove Hampton's former wife knew a divorce was imminent and downloaded the images herself to tarnish his name.

Tarnow alleges Hampton's ex took advantage of his addiction at the time to heroin, cocaine and alcohol to concoct the plan without him knowing. 

Tarnow showed several instances in which dates and times Little gave to police did not match her testimony in court.

“I was very emotional; thoughts were blended together. I obviously made a mistake,” said Little on the stand.

“My dates may have been mixed up, but I am testifying today with what I remember.”

Tarnow took dozens of opportunities to question Little on whether she was the one who downloaded the child pornography – she always replied with "no" or "absolutely not."

One of the defence's main points of contention was a call Little made to RCMP several hours after she gave her original statement. She called with new information she claimed to have forgotten.

Tarnow suggested she didn't forget the information at all but, instead, changed her story when she realized forensic investigators would examine the laptop.

“You likely racked your mind for a couple hours about what the forensic analysis on the laptop might recover,” Tarnow said to Little. “Then you called in to make it sound like you accidentally forgot to mention this. I suggest to you that you’re not telling the truth.”

“I was emotional, looking after two kids, I don’t know why I forgot, but I did and I am telling you what I know now,” replied Little.

Defence also brought up programs Little had downloaded onto the laptop, allegedly to permanently erase all information and browsing history from it.

“You downloaded these videos and tried to cover up your tracks with these three programs,” said Tarnow.

Little replied she downloaded the programs for efficiency. She said she believed they were intended to clear the “garbage” from the computer and make it run faster.

It was also revealed through cross-examination that Little lied about being on birth control because she wanted a second child with Hampton – a fact she admitted to. And, despite being unhappy in the marriage, she also got pregnant with their third child on purpose.

“As a single mother, I can say it’s not easy and it wasn’t the wisest decision, but I don’t regret it now.”

For past stories on this case, click here.