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Jian Ghomeshi, Former Canadian Radio Host, Acquitted of Sexual Assault Jian Ghomeshi, Former Canadian Radio Host, Acquitted of Sexual Assault
(about 2 hours later)
OTTAWA — A well-known Canadian musician and former radio host, Jian Ghomeshi, was acquitted of five charges related to sexual assault on Thursday, after a trial that provoked an exceptional amount of media attention and public debate.OTTAWA — A well-known Canadian musician and former radio host, Jian Ghomeshi, was acquitted of five charges related to sexual assault on Thursday, after a trial that provoked an exceptional amount of media attention and public debate.
Justice William B. Horkins of the Ontario Court of Justice, who heard the case without a jury, said the three women who testified against Mr. Ghomeshi had undermined their credibility by not disclosing aspects of their relationships with him to prosecutors and the police. Justice William B. Horkins of the Ontario Court of Justice, who heard the case without a jury, said the three women who testified against Mr. Ghomeshi had undermined their credibility by not disclosing important aspects of their relationships with him to prosecutors and the police.
“The evidence of each complainant suffered not just from inconsistencies and questionable behavior, but was tainted by outright deception,” read the judge’s decision.“The evidence of each complainant suffered not just from inconsistencies and questionable behavior, but was tainted by outright deception,” read the judge’s decision.
In a country where celebrity and political scandals rarely involve sex, Mr. Ghomeshi’s case seemed particularly lurid.In a country where celebrity and political scandals rarely involve sex, Mr. Ghomeshi’s case seemed particularly lurid.
The Toronto Star published a lengthy article about Mr. Ghomeshi’s sexual practices in 2014 in which women described dates with Mr. Ghomeshi that unexpectedly turned violent. The women’s accusations included being bitten, punched, choked and suffocated.The Toronto Star published a lengthy article about Mr. Ghomeshi’s sexual practices in 2014 in which women described dates with Mr. Ghomeshi that unexpectedly turned violent. The women’s accusations included being bitten, punched, choked and suffocated.
The article was published after Mr. Ghomeshi unexpectedly took a leave from “Q,” his daily radio program for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and before his arrest in late 2014.The article was published after Mr. Ghomeshi unexpectedly took a leave from “Q,” his daily radio program for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and before his arrest in late 2014.
In a lengthy post on Facebook, long since removed, Mr. Ghomeshi had said that all of the activities were consensual, and had characterized the sexual encounters as being “a mild form of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’”In a lengthy post on Facebook, long since removed, Mr. Ghomeshi had said that all of the activities were consensual, and had characterized the sexual encounters as being “a mild form of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’”
The often aggressive, and ultimately successful, efforts by Marie Henein, Mr. Ghomeshi’s lawyer, to undermine the credibility of the three complainants during the trial were widely condemned online and in other public forums by advocates for women affected by sexual violence. Among other things, Ms. Henein produced evidence that one of the women, who cannot be named under a court order, had sexual relations with Mr. Ghomeshi after the alleged assault. That appeared to be news to the prosecution and contradicted the woman’s statements to the police. The often aggressive, and ultimately successful, efforts by Marie Henein, Mr. Ghomeshi’s lawyer, to undermine the credibility of the three complainants during the trial were widely condemned online and in other public forums by advocates for women affected by sexual violence. Among other things, Ms. Henein produced evidence that one of the women, who cannot be named under a court order, had sexual relations with Mr. Ghomeshi after the alleged assault. That was news to the prosecution and contradicted the woman’s statements to the police.
Several activists have argued that Ms. Henein’s tactics effectively put the women on trial and will discourage other women from pursuing men who had sexually assaulted them. Justice Horkins said he agreed with Ms. Henein’s contention that the woman was “clearly ‘playing chicken’ with the justice system.”
At the start of Thursday’s hearing, a group of protesters stood outside the courthouse in downtown Toronto and waved placards reading, among other things, “We Believe Survivors.” The complainant, Judge Horkins said, “was prepared to tell half the truth for as long as she thought she might get away with it.”
Mr. Ghomeshi, who first became widely known in Canada as the drummer in a popular band, faces a separate trial in June for sexual assaults that prosecutors say took place at the CBC. It is unclear, however, whether that case will go ahead in light of Thursday’s verdict. Several activists have argued that Ms. Henein’s tactics effectively put the women on trial and will discourage other women from pursuing men who sexually assaulted them.
After the decision was issued, a group of protesters stood outside the courthouse in downtown Toronto in the freezing rain and chanted, “We believe survivors.”
A protester who was topless and had the slogan “Women declare Ghomeshi guilty” painted on her back rushed the lead prosecutor, Michael Callaghan, as he began speaking to reporters. She was arrested after toppling a bank of microphones.
Mr. Callaghan said that prosecutors would review the decision during the 30 days available for filing an appeal.
Mr. Ghomeshi, accompanied by Ms. Henein and another lawyer, did not speak as he walked out a back door of the courthouse to a waiting car. His sister, Jila Ghomeshi, told reporters that their family was “relieved but not surprised by the court’s decision today.”
She added, “It can only be surprising to those who rushed to judgment before the trial even started and before a single word of evidence had been heard.”
Jacob Jesin, a lawyer for one of the complainants, said that while the woman found the trial “difficult,” he did not think that she regretted it.
Mr. Ghomeshi, who first became widely known in Canada as the drummer in a popular band, faces a separate trial in June for sexual assaults that prosecutors say took place at the CBC.
Chuck Thompson, a spokesman for the CBC, said the broadcaster would not rehire Mr. Ghomeshi, whose program had been broadcast by several public radio stations in the United States.
“Based on the evidence that came to our attention, Mr. Ghomeshi’s actions were not compatible with the values of the public broadcaster nor with our employee code of conduct,” Mr. Thompson wrote in an email.