Some massage therapists less aware of accidental touching than others, expert tells sexual assault trial - Calgary Herald

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Not all massage therapists would be as keenly aware as others of accidentally touching clients’ privates, an expert told a sexual assault trial Thursday.

Janet Mwamburi, a director of education for the Alberta College of Massage Therapy, agreed with defence lawyer Karen Molle that not every member of her organization would immediately know of inadvertent touching.

“In terms of ranges of abilities of massage therapists, you agree with me that how sensitive a particular massage therapist is (is) going to vary, there’s going to be a continuum,” Molle suggested.

“That is correct,” Mwamburi said.

“Some massage therapists are going to be extremely sensitive in terms of their ability to detect what they may have touched and other massage therapists are going to be lower on the continuum in terms of being more unaware?”

“That is correct,” Mwamburi repeated.

Molle’s client, Dennis Quebral Baltazar, faces 16 charges of sexual assault involving allegations he inappropriately touched clients while working at two separate sports therapy clinics in 2017 and 2018.