Tony Humby preyed on vulnerable boys and groomed them not to report him to police, St. John's Crown argues

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewfoundland & LabradorNews Tony Humby preyed on vulnerable boys and groomed them not to report him to police, St. John's Crown argues 'Mr. Humby was holding the alcohol, the drugs, the money, the cigarettes over their heads," prosecutor says in closing submission at trial Author of the article: By Tara Bradbury Published Sep 23, 2026 4 minute read Tony Humby sits in provincial court on Monday Sep. 21, 2026. PHOTO BY KEITH GOSSE/THE TELEGRAM Article content There is sufficient evidence that Tony Humby is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, prosecutor Deidre Badcock argued in a St. John’s courtroom Tuesday, Sept. 22. Article content Strong evidence, she said. Article content Article content Overwhelming evidence. Article content And, she added, the Crown has proven all of it. Article content It was Badcock’s turn to present her closing arguments at the trial of the 64-year-old, who has pleaded not guilty to 71 charges of sexual violence against nearly a dozen male complainants, many of them youth, spanning decades. Article content Article content Most of the complainants testified about their troubled backgrounds: instability in their formative years, the involvement of child protection authorities, and time spent in group homes, shelters and rehab. Many of them had substance abuse issues and their own criminal convictions. Article content That’s exactly why Humby targeted them, Badcock alleged. Article content “It goes without saying Mr. Humby picked the most vulnerable individuals to prey on. That’s by design. He’s not going down Waterford Bridge Road. He’s not going down King William Estates. He’s picking those that are vulnerable,” she said. Article content “The forgotten-abouts, that’s who Mr. Humby has picked. He has completely weaponized who they are against them and targeted them.” Article content Ten complainants — who range in present age from 19 to their early 30s — testified at Humby’s trial, many of them giving similar evidence of being teenagers living in vulnerable situations when they first met Humby and visited him at his east end St. John’s home. Article content Article content They told the court Humby gave them alcohol, marijuana and cash, and sexually abused and exploited them. Some of the complainants said Humby had taken explicit pictures of them, or had offered them money to send…