Jian Ghomeshi not guilty
Acquitted on all sexual assault, choking charges. Judge says inconsistencies in complainants' stories were key in acquittal of former CBC broadcaster
Former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi has been acquitted on four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking.
Judge William Horkins announced his ruling today in the Ontario Court of Justice. The decision follows an eight-day trial held in Toronto at the beginning of February.
After the judge announced his decision, Ghomeshi hugged his mother and sister.
The 48-year-old Ghomeshi had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, related to three complainants, who alleged incidents occurred in 2002 and 2003.
All of the complainants testified during Ghomeshi’s trial.
In a decision that was scathing of the three complainants, Horkins repeatedly pointed to inconsistences in their stories that he said ultimately undermined their credibility and raised the issue of reasonable doubt.
Horkins says all he had to go on was the women’s credibility, which he said cross-examination showed to be sorely lacking.
Ghomeshi had pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking.
The women testified they were being romantic with Ghomeshi when he briefly turned violent in separate incidents in 2002 and 2003.
Source: CBC.ca
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