Jian Ghomeshi cut his rising career success short after notoriously making headlines last year over sexual assault claims and charges. His high-profile trial opened on Monday in a Toronto courtroom.
The 48-year-old Canadian musician and former CBC radio broadcaster made his first trial appearance on Monday, pleading not guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking.
The first witness, one of three in the case, took the stand. The woman testified that Ghomeshi sexually assaulted her twice, pulled her hair on one occasion and punched her in the head multiple times after getting physical at his home.
Photo Credit: CTV News
"I'm terrified. I don't know why he's doing this. I don't know if he's going to stop. Can I take this pain? And my ears are ringing, and I felt like I was going to faint. I'm going to end up passed out on his floor. And I started to cry," said the woman. Her identity is protected by a publication ban during her testimony.
Ghomeshi's defence lawyer, Marie Henein, later aggressively challenged the woman's credibility, questioning her recollection of the events in question.
Henein suggested the woman lied and gave police "different versions" of the alleged assault that took place in Ghomeshi's car in 2002.
Photo Credit: Toronto Life
"That was a lie, right?" Henein asked the complainant of the omission to the news outlets regarding their kiss.
In interviews with the Toronto Star and on CBC's The National, Henein stated that the complainant did not mention any intimacy with the accused or that she and Ghomeshi kissed in his car before he allegedly pulled her hair.
Despite the numerous bombshells the defence dropped on the witness, the witness did not break on the stand. She continued to deny lying about what happened.
Photo Credit: CBC News
Donning a charcoal grey suit, Ghomeshi evoked no emotion. He sat silently while occasionally taking notes, and watched his lawyer pace the courtroom during the cross-examination.
The defence rested its case on Tuesday, and the Crown Attorney declined to re-examine its first witness.
Photo Credit: National Post
Ghomeshi was fired by the CBC in October 2014 after the corporation discovered graphic evidence, consisting of videos, photos and text messages proving he had physically injured a woman.
Whatever the outcome of the trial, many people believe Ghomeshi won't regain his celebrity status.
The trial doesn't have a jury. It's only being heard by Judge William Horkins. The trial will resume on Thursday.
Main Image Photo Credit: CBC News
Nicole Singh
Author
Nicole is a bilingual professional with a journalism background who adores everything to do with fashion, culture, and Bollywood. She always had a passion for writing since a young age and decided to follow that dream. She has a sense of working in the field through news publications writt...
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