Witness tells Regina court man charged with abduction mentioned taking daughter away to avoid COVID-19 vaccine

The trial of a Carievale, Sask., man charged with abduction after he allegedly failed to return his seven-year-old daughter to the care of her mother in 2021 entered its third day on Wednesday at Regina Court of King's Bench.

Michael Gordon Jackson, 55, has pleaded not guilty. He is representing himself at the trial.

On Tuesday, the girl's mother testified that she had primary custody, but Jackson would get the daughter on Easter holidays, spring break, family week and certain long weekends. The mother is estranged from Jackson.

CBC has chosen to not name the mother in an effort to protect the identity of the daughter.

She said that for one of those long weekend visits, in November 2021, Jackson was supposed to pick their daughter up from school in Regina and bring her back five days later. That didn't happen, she testified.

Jackson and his daughter were found in Vernon, B.C., in late February 2022 after a Canada-wide warrant was placed on Jackson.

Two witnesses testified Wednesday morning and were questioned by Crown prosecutor Zoey Kim-Zeggelaar and Jackson. They identified themselves as an acquaintance and a friend of Jackson's. They both spoke to his concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, as well Jackson's finances as they relate to his property.

Both witnesses testified that they had been asked by Jackson to pay the tax and utility bills on his property. They said he was concerned that his property would be seized if the bills were not paid.

In November 2021, Michael Gordon Jackson took his seven-year-old daughter to an undisclosed location. RCMP found them in a parking lot in Vernon, B.C., on Feb. 24 and arrested Michael. He is now charged with abduction. (Submitted)

The first witness, Gregory Schiestel, told the Crown that he has known Jackson for approximately eight years. He lives in Alameda, Sask. — 59 kilometres east of Estevan —  and said Jackson contacted him after leaving the area to ask him to pay some of Jackson's bills, which Scheistel did once.

Scheistel said they had conversations about COVID-19 vaccines leading up to Jackson leaving the area.

"He did not believe in it," Scheistel said, adding that Jackson did not think children should get the vaccine.

Jackson then cross-examined Scheistel, who testified that when he was questioned by police following Jackson leaving the province, he was told he would be arrested if he continued to pay Jackson's bills.

The second witness, Warren Dalziel of Oxbow, Sask., testified that he checked on his friend's property and paid the bills while Jackson's whereabouts was unknown. He said Jackson contacted him at least 10 times during that period from an unknown number.

Dalziel testified that Jackson never told him where he and his daughter were located.

Friend acted as 'go-between'

The court heard from two more witnesses Wednesday afternoon — Sarah Sim and Shawn Sim — who identified themselves as friends of Jackson's. At the time of the alleged abduction, they both lived on a farm near Dilke, Sask., 78 kilometres northwest of Regina. They said Jackson's daughter sometimes played with their daughters.

Both testified that they would help Jackson with transiting his daughter to and from her mother's home in Regina on occasion.

Sarah Sim testified that she believed the seven-year-old girl seemed happier with her father than with her mother. However, Sarah admitted she had never spent time with the mother. She also was not able to give any dates as to when she last saw Jackson before he left the province.

Michael Gordon Jackson leaves Regina Court of King's Bench Tuesday with some friends and supporters. (Richard Agecoutay/CBC)

Shawn Sim testified that during the fall of 2021, he and Jackson saw each other every month or so, but spoke on the phone every few days prior to the alleged abduction.

Shawn said Jackson thought the COVID-19 vaccine was harmful and shouldn't be administered, especially to his daughter. This, Shawn said, was a regular topic of conversation.

"He wanted it stopped," said Shawn.

He said Jackson talked about leaving home in a "very general sort of way."

"He'd say things like, 'I'll do anything to keep her safe, if I have to take her away, I will,'" Shawn said.

Shawn also testified to receiving messages from Jackson after he left Saskatchewan. Shawn said Jackson asked him to be a "go-between," passing along some of Jackson's messages to the police and vice versa.

Sim said Jackson at no point told him where he and his daughter were located.

The trial by jury, which is presided over by Justice Heather MacMillan-Brown, is scheduled to take two weeks.

It resumes at the Regina Court of King's Bench on Thursday at 10 a.m. CST.