This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/24/jian-ghomeshi-acquitted-sexual-assault-trial
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jian Ghomeshi acquitted of all charges in sexual assault trial | Jian Ghomeshi acquitted of all charges in sexual assault trial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Canadian radio star Jian Ghomeshi has been acquitted of all charges in the first trial to emerge from the barrage of allegations against the prominent celebrity. | Former Canadian radio star Jian Ghomeshi has been acquitted of all charges in the first trial to emerge from the barrage of allegations against the prominent celebrity. |
| After more than a month of deliberation, Judge William Horkins said on Thursday he found Ghomeshi, 48, not guilty of four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking dating back to 2002 and 2003. | After more than a month of deliberation, Judge William Horkins said on Thursday he found Ghomeshi, 48, not guilty of four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking dating back to 2002 and 2003. |
| Related: Jian Ghomeshi verdict could have lasting impact on sexual assault victims | Related: Jian Ghomeshi verdict could have lasting impact on sexual assault victims |
| Delivering his verdict, Horkins said that prosecutors had failed to establish Ghomeshi’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and highlighted inconsistencies in the testimonies of the three female complainants. | |
| The judge said that the crown’s case relied solely on the word of the witnesses. “There is no other evidence to look to determine the truth. There is no tangible evidence. There is no DNA. There is no ‘smoking gun’,” he said. | |
| But he said that in the course of the trial it became clear that each witness was “less than full and frank and forthcoming” in their statements to media, police and the court. | |
| In his decision Horkins said that “my conclusion that the evidence in this case raises a reasonable doubt is not the same as deciding in any positive way that these events never happened.” | |
| Moments after the judge read his decision, the three complainants left the courtroom with tears in their eyes. | |
| Ghomeshi’s mother and sister, who attended every day of the eight-day trial, hugged each other and Ghomeshi and embraced with his defence lawyer Marie Henein. | |
| Outside the court, Ghomeshi’s sister Jila read a brief statement from his family. “We are relieved but not surprised by the court decision today. It can only be surprising to those who rushed to judgement before the trial had started and before a single word of evidence had been heard,” she said. | |
| Toronto police launched an investigation in 2014, after several women went to media with claims of being attacked while on dates with Ghomeshi. At the time, Ghomeshi was a rising star at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. | Toronto police launched an investigation in 2014, after several women went to media with claims of being attacked while on dates with Ghomeshi. At the time, Ghomeshi was a rising star at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| The allegations led to one of the most high-profile Canadian trials in recent memory and sparked a nationwide conversation on how the country’s justice system addresses sexual assault allegations. | The allegations led to one of the most high-profile Canadian trials in recent memory and sparked a nationwide conversation on how the country’s justice system addresses sexual assault allegations. |
| In June, Ghomeshi faces a second trial, stemming from allegations that he touched the buttocks of a former CBC employee and said to her: “I want to hate-fuck you.” | In June, Ghomeshi faces a second trial, stemming from allegations that he touched the buttocks of a former CBC employee and said to her: “I want to hate-fuck you.” |
| Managers of CBC apologised last year to their employees and audience after a damning report concluded they knew of Ghomeshi’s inappropriate behaviour but chose to instead protect the popular radio host. Host of the show Q, Ghomeshi had cultivated a loyal following and ranked among the few CBC personalities known internationally. | Managers of CBC apologised last year to their employees and audience after a damning report concluded they knew of Ghomeshi’s inappropriate behaviour but chose to instead protect the popular radio host. Host of the show Q, Ghomeshi had cultivated a loyal following and ranked among the few CBC personalities known internationally. |