The defense team representing Frank Stronach concluded their evidence presentation on Wednesday, aiming to question the credibility of the initial investigation into the sexual assault allegations against the Canadian entrepreneur. Both the prosecution and the defense have now completed presenting their evidence, with Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy scheduled to hear closing arguments later this month. Stronach’s lawyer, Leora Shemesh, is also pursuing a stay of proceedings and plans to argue that the Crown engaged in an abuse of power by allegedly coaching some witnesses prior to the trial.
Throughout their case, the defense called upon several witnesses, including a former horse trainer at Stronach’s stables, a former assistant, and two former drivers. Notably, Stronach himself, who attended court daily, did not testify in this judge-alone trial. Shemesh concluded the evidence phase by questioning two police officers from the special victims unit involved in the investigation of the allegations against Stronach, focusing on challenging the thoroughness of their inquiry.
Frank Stronach is facing a total of seven charges related to four of the original seven complainants in the trial. Initially, he faced 12 counts spanning from 1977 to 1990, but five charges were withdrawn as per Crown prosecutor Jelena Vlacic due to a lack of prospect for conviction. The 93-year-old Magna International founder has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the questioning, it was revealed that the complainants were not instructed to tell the truth during their statements to the police. The use of a commissioner of oaths to affirm the truth and cautioning about the consequences of lying were also not implemented. Specific details of the investigation were scrutinized, including discrepancies in witness recollections and the lack of verification regarding Stronach’s ownership of certain vehicles. Additionally, the failure to contact border officials for potential alibi verification was highlighted, raising questions about the investigative thoroughness.
In response to queries about evolving statements from complainants, the investigating officer noted that memory recall can change over time and that this phenomenon is common in such cases. The investigation’s approach was further scrutinized, with emphasis on missed investigative opportunities such as contacting border authorities for travel records. The trial has heard testimonies from multiple women alleging sexual assaults by Stronach after meeting him at his former restaurant and then being invited to his condo. The Crown’s case included testimony from eight witnesses, comprising the complainants and a friend of one of the accusers.