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鈥淚鈥檝e had to go through almost three years of hell, and I know God, at the end of the day, will deal with these individuals,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 will continue to stay strong and work hard at my job as a city councillor, and as a person.鈥澛�

Ontario Court Justice Phil Brissette acquitted Thompson on Tuesday afternoon after hearing evidence in courthouses in Bracebridge, Barrie and Bradford, before delivering his decision in this southern Georgian Bay town of 11,000.

When the trial got underway last October, Thompson, 65, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault against two women whose identities are protected under a publication ban. Over a total of 21 days in court, the judge listened to 13 days of evidence that included testimony of the two complainants, a university student who was also a guest, and Thompson himself.

He was accused of molesting one woman while applying sunscreen and later forcing himself on her friend in the middle of the night.

On Tuesday, Brissette said that while he found the three women gave their evidence in an open and forthright manner, he had concerns about their sobriety and ability to accurately recall details of what happened, noting a number of inconsistencies in their testimony.

Thompson denied applying the sunscreen in a sexual manner and did so after asking for permission. The woman agreed she consented, but had an 鈥渙ut of body鈥� experience when his hands touched her buttocks as she lay on the dock on a lawn chair. Thompson denied getting 鈥渉andsy,鈥� and the judge said he found him to be a 鈥渇airly reliable witness鈥� whose memories were not clouded by booze.

鈥淲hile there was evidence (Thompson) smoked weed, he was not impaired or intoxicated as the other parties there,鈥� Brissette said, reading from his 40-page decision.

The judge also had concerns about the second complainant鈥檚 level of intoxication, and how she 鈥渁dmitted blackouts in key parts of the sexual assault allegation,鈥� leaving him with a reasonable doubt about Thompson鈥檚 guilt.

He did, however, have trouble with some of Thompson鈥檚 testimony in relation to the second complainant. Brissette said he had a difficult time accepting that he 鈥渄idn鈥檛 see any signs of intoxication,鈥� despite buying the women a bottle of tequila and watching them drink wine at dinner after hours of imbibing in the sun.

Brissette said he also had a hard time accepting Thompson鈥檚 testimony that he had no sexual interest in any of the guests that weekend, given that he admitted he had a sexual encounter with the second complainant that he described as consensual. Nevertheless, the judge said he had too many concerns about the reliability of the complainant鈥檚 testimony to overcome reasonable doubt.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution tried to establish that Thompson used his power as an elected official 鈥� he was one of Toronto鈥檚 deputy mayors at the time 鈥� to lure the university student to the cottage under the false pretences of a 鈥渘etworking opportunity.鈥�

While testifying, one of the complainants who travels in city hall circles testified she is friends with a business owner who was disappointed with his dealings with Thompson.

Outside the courthouse, Shemesh said she was 鈥渄elighted by the verdict,鈥� and Brissette鈥檚 鈥渓ong well-reasoned judgment.鈥�

鈥淚t was a long, very torturous process for Mr. Thompson 鈥� I鈥檓 glad that he can go home today and believe the justice system does work and it does work well.鈥� She didn鈥檛 comment on Thompson鈥檚 comments outside court, other than to say, 鈥淚 think oftentimes defendants try to rationalize or reason why they鈥檙e in the position that they鈥檙e in.鈥�

In October 2022, a month after he was charged, Thompson, who has been a councillor since 2003, was re-elected in his Scarborough Centre (Ward 21) with 55 per cent of the vote.聽

Asked if he plans to run again, Thompson said he hasn鈥檛 made up his mind yet.

Most city councillors contacted by the Star declined to comment on the verdict.

Asked for Mayor Olivia Chow鈥檚 response, her office issued a one-sentence statement: 鈥淢ayor Chow respects the court鈥檚 decision.鈥�

Coun. Jon Burnside (Ward 16, Don Valley East) said now that the judge has made his decision, 鈥渇or me, the matter is closed.鈥�

Burnside acknowledged that despite the acquittal, some who work at city hall might be troubled by details of Thompson鈥檚 behaviour that were heard at trial. But he said voters will have their chance to render their political judgment on Thompson if he chooses to run in next October鈥檚 municipal election, and his own professional relationship with Thompson hadn鈥檛 been affected.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 doubt that people will still have issues with Michael, because it is a complicated situation,鈥� Burnside said.

鈥淚 have a job to do at city hall, and so does Michael Thompson. As long as he鈥檚 a councillor, I will work with him.鈥�

Thompson has continued to serve on council and attend meetings during the trial, but Burnside predicted how active he will be for the rest of the term will largely depend on Chow, who has the authority to elevate him to important positions or shut him out.

With files from Ben Spurr