After nearly two weeks of trial, the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, who is accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, reached its final arguments. Jackson, representing himself, pleaded not guilty to abduction in contravention of a child custody order. In his statement to the jury, Jackson argued that his intention was solely to protect his daughter from being vaccinated and not to deprive the mother of her possession. He emphasized that every Crown witness testified that the daughter was only taken to prevent her from getting the vaccine, not to deprive the mother.
On the other hand, Crown prosecutor Zoey Kim-Zeggelaar argued that Jackson’s intention was to prevent the mother from possessing the child, in addition to avoiding the vaccine. She pointed out that Jackson had input into the decision-making process, sending multiple articles and links about the COVID-19 vaccine to the mother. Kim-Zeggelaar emphasized that Jackson’s actions were those of someone who was prepared to hold the daughter until he got what he wanted. She also highlighted text messages sent by Jackson to the RCMP while on the run, indicating that he believed it would be beneficial for the daughter to never see her mother again.
The discussion in court revolved around the couple’s custody order, which stated that the wife had the final say on decisions about the child’s health, but Jackson would be consulted. The Crown argued that despite no formal discussion, it was clear that Jackson did not want his daughter vaccinated and expressed his opinion to the mother. Kim-Zeggelaar stated that Jackson took the law into his own hands by abducting his daughter. The case stemmed from a tumultuous divorce and custody agreement, leading to Jackson’s actions.
As the trial wrapped up, Jackson stated that the Crown had proven his case without him needing to testify. He reiterated that his only intention was to protect his daughter from being vaccinated, claiming that he would never allow harm to come to her. The jury will begin deliberations on the judge’s charge the following morning to reach a unanimous decision. Currently, 14 members sit on the jury, but only 12 will make the final decision. The outcome of the trial will determine whether Jackson is guilty of abduction in contravention of a child custody order. The case has garnered significant attention as a “historic criminal case” in Saskatchewan.
In conclusion, the trial of Michael Gordon Jackson for allegedly abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine has reached its final arguments. Jackson argued that his sole intention was to protect his daughter, while the Crown prosecutor emphasized that he also intended to deprive the mother of possession of the child. The case highlighted the complexities of divorce and custody agreements, with the jury now tasked with reaching a unanimous decision. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for Jackson and his family, as well as set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
