Traditional healer charged with sexual assault acquitted

On February 10, 2017 Walter Cooke was acquitted. The judge cited inconsistencies in the testimony of the alleged victim who was 18 at the time.  Witnesses testified that Cooke wasn’t even in his office at the time the assault was alleged to have happened.  The judge ruled that Cooke deserved the benefit of the doubt and rendered a verdict of not guilty.

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A traditional healer who worked at a clinic in downtown Hamilton has been charged with sexual assault.

Walter Cooke has worked as a traditional healer at the Aboriginal Health Centre on Main street East since 1999. Hamilton police say earlier this month they received reports of a female patient who was sexually assaulted at the clinic. After an investigation police arrested Cooke on Wednesday and charged the 67-year old with sexual assault. He’s been released but must adhere to several conditions.

Police are asking anyone with any other information about the investigation to contact them. The executive director of the health centre telling CHCH news this afternoon that there have never been any other complaints about Cooke from any patients in the past and while she also says they are working with police their first priority is the health of their clients.