Closing arguments delivered in assault trial of former Yellowknife city councillor

A trial over sexual assault and assault allegations against a former Yellowknife city councillor is wrapping up after nearly two weeks of testimony. 

Robin Williams faces 14 charges that include choking, punching and dragging a woman by her hair. The allegations come from the same woman over an eight-year span.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 

Both Williams and his accuser, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, were the only two people to testify in the trial. The credibility of both was the focus of the closing arguments from the defence and the Crown. 

Williams' lawyer, Evan McIntyre, argued the woman lied under oath multiple times. He highlighted discrepancies between testimony she had given earlier to police and her saying with certainty that an event occurred at a certain time when there was contrary evidence that it had. 

McIntyre said each example on its own might not be concerning, but the number added up as the testimony went on and that should concern jurors. 

"If they lie under oath, that's a big problem," McIntyre said, adding it should make the jury question if they believe anything that was said. 

He also referenced the amount of time it took the woman to respond to his questions while testifying, adding it was clear she was searching for the perfect answer. 

He said only Williams and the woman were present for when the allegations took place, so it is just the woman's word that they are going off of. 

McIntyre also discussed the impact the allegations have had on Williams, noting his charges were covered in the media and all Williams could do was deny them and wait two years for the trial. 

"Imagine if you or a loved one were in Mr. Williams' position," McIntyre asked the jury. 

McIntyre said the jury's job is to only convict Williams if they believe him to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He said based on the testimony given by the woman, they should be left with numerous doubts. 

"All we have is her word,"  he said.

Crown prosecutor Brian Bencze said that the woman's testimony was credible and the jury should have enough evidence to find Williams guilty of all 14 charges. 

He said she also had evidence to corroborate her claims. These include photos after certain alleged assaults and text messages. 

Bencze said although there were some discrepancies in her testimony, that is to be expected when testifying on events that occurred years in the past. 

Bencze said Williams' testimony should be rejected as he wasn't consistent and some of what he said didn't make sense, such as his explanation for when he was alleged to have dragged the woman by her hair. 

Williams had said the woman had fallen after drinking too much alcohol and he tried to help lift her up from behind when her hair got caught in his zipper. 

Bencze said that her hair getting caught in the zipper isn't plausible and neither are Williams' alternate explanations for the other allegations. 

The trial will resume on Wednesday where the jury will be given instruction from Supreme Court Justice David Gates, and then will begin deliberating.