The room was quiet as day 1 of the trial of Estes Fonkalsrud began Monday. The defendant seemed calm, even making a quip toward the Gallery of 5 at one point.

The local lawyer, charged with contact for a sexual purpose, sexual assault, and inviting to touch in a sexual manner, was being tried by Court of Queens Bench Judge alone. The presiding Judge is Justice Mills. Mr. Fonkalsrud sat alone in the jury box during much of the day writing notes for his own trial.

There were 2 witnesses called to the stand on Monday, questioned by both prosecutor Todd Welsch, and the defendant's defense team.

The first witness called to the stand was Constable James Adams, the first RCMP police officer to respond to the call the early morning of May 22, 2016.

Questioned by Prosecutor Todd Welsch, he said he received a call around 2 am from a distraught man, who Constable Adams was familiar with, saying there had been an incident involving Fonkalsrud at a cabin at Buffalo Pound. Constable Adams along with two other officers responded to the scene and conducted a number of interviews before bringing the alleged victim back to the police station for further questioning.

The next day, officers were unable to locate or contact Fonkalsrud.

The constable, prosecutor and defence attorneys then went through pictures that were taken that night at the cabins, and of the alleged victim's scratched feet and bruised arms.

Next, the accuser was called to stand via short circuit camera from a separate room.

It's alleged that the accuser went to Buffalo Pound to visit a friend's cabin, watch movies, and admittedly have a few drinks. They spent the evening at the cabin, where Fonkalsrud was allegedly socializing with her friend's parents. She claimed he stared at her for much of the night.

When the 3 girls went to bed, they allegedly heard knocking at the bedroom window from outside. That knocking was Fonkalsrud. She testified he invited the girls out of the house, saying he was having a party. She left with him toward his truck, and the two drove together to his house. She allegedly told her friend to call within 20 minutes if she hadn't returned.

After getting out of his truck at his house, she asked to use the bathroom. She then called her friend to say that she would be coming back to the cabin soon. She left the bathroom and tried to leave the residence; that’s when she claims Fonkalsrud tried to stop her, and the alleged assault took place. 

After returning to her friends cabin, she told one friend what happened. They went to the next bedroom and woke up the other, before waking up the parents, who immediately called the police.

Next, it was the defence attorney's turn to question the accuser.

The defence tried to draw out some inconsistencies with her statement, saying she could not recall the colour of Fonkalsrud’s truck that they rode into his house, and she had given two different answers as to where he parked the truck at his house.

Day 2 of the trial continues Tuesday, with Fonkalsrud expected to give his testimony.