# Trial Begins for 'Woodland Rapist' Accused of 1990s Child Sex Crimes Richard Neil faces 17 charges for historical sexual assaults involving three child victims. - **Source:** [Toronto Sun](https://torontosun.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4c3a93ac-44cb-4fb7-9d7c-ea35f022d124 ## Decades-Old Cold Case Trial Richard Neil, a 67-year-old former courier, is currently on trial for a series of violent sexual assaults against children during the 1990s. Known as the Woodland Rapist, the perpetrator terrorized victims in Kitchener, Brampton, and Oakville. Neil faces 17 criminal charges and maintains his innocence, claiming he is being wrongfully accused. ## Pattern of Violent Crimes The attacker targeted three children between 1992 and 1995, luring them into wooded areas before binding them with yellow rope. Victims were subjected to sexual assault and forced to consume the perpetrator's urine. The crimes shared distinct signatures, including specific methods of restraint and the use of personal items as masks. ## Forensic Evidence Presented Prosecutors argue that DNA evidence found at all three crime scenes provides overwhelming proof of Neil's guilt. Experts testified that it is 20 quadrillion times more likely that the DNA belongs to Neil than an unrelated person. Additionally, fingerprints lifted from a pop bottle and shopping bags at the scenes allegedly match the defendant. ## Defense Challenges Forensic Validity Defense lawyer Leo Adler has attacked the integrity of the investigation and the Centre of Forensic Sciences. He characterized the DNA results as faulty science and argued that Neil, a father with no prior criminal record, is a victim of a nightmare situation. The defense insists the evidence is a scandal. ## Crown Attorney Rebuts Claims Crown attorney Kelli Frew dismissed the defense's arguments as being riddled with inaccuracies and misstatements. She emphasized that the combination of DNA, fingerprint evidence, and the specific behavioral patterns observed in the crimes makes the inference of guilt certain. Frew maintained that the statistics are exceptionally damaging to the defendant's claims. ## Defendant's Personal Testimony During the trial, Neil took the stand to express his shock at being accused of these offenses. He admitted to having a fetish for drinking urine, which the defense claims is the primary reason he is being targeted by investigators. Neil steadfastly insists that he did not commit these violent sexual crimes. ## The Impact of Evidence The case relies heavily on the totality of evidence, including similarities in victim descriptions and the specific calling cards left at crime scenes. While the defense focuses on the frailty of forensic results, the prosecution maintains that the convergence of multiple independent data points leaves no room for reasonable doubt regarding the identity. ## Jury Deliberation Expected Legal submissions in the trial are set to conclude this Friday. The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Saturday to determine the verdict for the 17 charges. This trial marks a significant moment for the victims, who have waited three decades for the perpetrator of these crimes to be identified. ## Sources covering this story - https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/toronto-man-trial-accused-monster-woodland-rapist-terrorized-kids-1990s — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._