海角社区官网Coun. Michael Thompson鈥檚 trial on sex assault charges halted abruptly Thursday after his lawyer threatened to ask the judge to declare a mistrial, a move the prosecution called 鈥減remature and frivolous.鈥
The protracted proceeding, which began last October and has convened sporadically over the months at courthouses in Bracebridge and now Barrie, involves allegations made by two female guests at a cottage in Muskoka on Canada Day weekend in 2022. Thompson鈥檚 friend, 海角社区官网criminal lawyer Calvin Barry, owns the six-bedroom waterfront property but was not there.
After the Crown closed its case earlier this week, the veteran politician finally took the stand and denied all of the allegations. One woman alleges he touched her buttocks and breasts while applying sunscreen, the other says he forced himself on her in the middle of the night.
During her cross-examination on Thursday, Crown attorney Mareike Newhouse grilled Thompson about his intentions with a university student also at the cottage that weekend. At the time she was 22, young enough to be his granddaughter, Newhouse noted. He invited her to the cottage 鈥 along with her family members, he said 鈥 within five days of meeting her June 17, 2022, at an art show in Yorkville. At the time, he was deputy mayor and chair of the city鈥檚 economic development committee.
鈥淵ou did in fact have a sexual interest,鈥 Newhouse suggested to Thompson, who is 65.
鈥淎bsolutely not,鈥 he chuckled disdainfully.
But after five hours of this line of questioning, defence lawyer Leora Shemesh interjected. The student, she told the judge, is not a complainant.
鈥淪he is a witness,鈥 and Thompson is not charged with anything inappropriate as it relates to her, Shemesh said.
Thompson has vehemently denied sexually assaulting two women at his friend鈥檚 cottage on Canada
Newhouse, however, told Justice Phil Brissette she is entitled to challenge Thompson鈥檚 credibility since he testified Wednesday that he had no sexual interest in the young woman. Newhouse referred to the woman鈥檚 testimony that Thompson asked her to test the bounciness of a bed, tried to use a massage gun on her body and told her, 鈥渇eel free to get naked鈥 鈥 all denied by Thompson.
鈥淗e was trying to, I think, get into her pants,鈥 Newhouse said, adding: 鈥淚t鈥檚 the theme of the weekend.鈥
To this, Shemesh argued the Crown was advancing a new theory, raising the concern that she can鈥檛 properly defend her client, which may necessitate a mistrial.
The lawyers and judge agreed to meet virtually Friday afternoon to determine next steps.
During her cross-examination Thursday, Newhouse suggested Thompson, who is separated from his wife, made his intentions clear the moment he met the student, going far out of his way to drive her home to a suburb north of 海角社区官网after meeting her in Yorkville and giving her $100 to pay her cellphone bill.
How often do you use your own money to pay the bills of a young woman, asked Newhouse.
鈥淚 have given money to varying people over the years 鈥 not specifically young women, older folks 鈥 that is something that I do,鈥 he replied.
Newhouse asked whether it was 鈥渨eird or awkward鈥 that he was trying to befriend a woman when 鈥測ou are three times her age.鈥
Thompson rejected there was anything 鈥渨eird鈥 about it, saying he has friends of all ages.
He noted that very morning, a 10-year-old boy in his neighbourhood came over because 鈥渆verybody鈥檚 aware of what鈥檚 happening to me鈥 and said: 鈥淕ood luck today, we鈥檙e praying for you.鈥
Newhouse asked Thompson if he was actually suggesting the 10-year-old is his friend.
鈥淵es. He is my friend, yes.鈥
The trial continues.
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