Defence at Regina chiropractor's sex assault trial challenges witness's account
Jeffery Tram | CBC News | Posted: November 6, 2024 1:24 PM | Last Updated: November 7
Ruben Manz accused of sexually assaulting 7 of his patients
The cross-examination of a second Crown witness took place Wednesday in the trial of a Regina chiropractor charged with multiple cases of sexual assault.
Ruben Manz is accused of sexually assaulting seven women between 2010 and 2020 while they were under his care. The complainants cannot be identified due to a publication ban.
The witness cross-examined on Wednesday, a 50-year-old woman, testified the previous day that at her last appointment with Manz, one of his hands was inside her shirt while his other hand was pulling her head to one side.
She said his pinky finger went underneath her bra and she felt her breast lift.
On Wednesday, the defence challenged the witness's recollection of events and her understanding of how chiropractic practices work.
They also asked the witness why it took her until April of 2021 to finally report to police.
"I wasn't sure if it was inappropriate, I just know it made me feel uncomfortable," she said.
She explained that because the alleged act happened to her own body, she was unsure of herself, but said that if it had happened to someone else, such as her daughter, she said she would have fully understood that it was an act of sexual assault.
WATCH | Witnesses testify at trial for Regina chiropractor charged with sexual assault:
The witness also said another reason she was hesitant to report what happened to her was because of her concerns about people who makes false accusations of sexual assaults. She said she wanted to be sure that what happened to her was a crime.
A third witness also testified in front of the jury Wednesday afternoon. Cross examination for that witness is expected to begin on Thursday.