Jury deliberations begin in Regina chiropractor's sexual assault trial

The sexual assault trial of Regina-area chiropractor Ruben Manz has entered its final stage at Court of King's Bench on Friday.

Justice Janet McMurtry has provided directions to a jury of 12 people, who were deliberating as of early Friday afternoon.

Manz, 49, is accused of sexually assaulting seven women who were his patients over the course of decade, between 2010 and 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During the nearly four-week trial, which began on Nov. 4, the jury heard from Manz, who testified in his own defence, and the women accusing him of assaulting them.

Under examination from Crown prosecutor Jackie Lane, each of the seven women testified that Manz would reach under their bras and touch their breasts while stretching their necks.

During closing arguments, Lane argued Manz had access to the women as a trusted medical caregiver, and betrayed that trust by touching them sexually without their consent and without legitimate medical purpose.

Defence lawyer Kathy Hodgson-Smith argued in her closing statement that Manz is a family man who loved his job and always acted appropriately as a chiropractor. Hodgson-Smith pointed to Manz's willingness to break down details of the medical reports of the witnesses during his testimony. 

Manz was asked several times to define terminology and explain to the court the process of a regular chiropractic appointment. The defence has argued the type of neck stretch Manz performed is part of legitimate chiropractic treatment, and that he performed the stretch appropriately and did not purposely touch the witnesses' breasts for a sexual reason.

Another chiropractor brought in as an expert witness for the defence earlier this week said Manz followed the industry standard of care in regard to consent, diagnosing, treatment and record keeping.

"It was all legitimate chiropractic treatment," Hodgson-Smith told the jury Wednesday.

Hodgson-Smith also said Manz remained consistent under cross-examination, without contradictions.

The defence also called the seven accusers "unreliable," saying their accounts of what happened were influenced by the police officer who was leading the case.

Crown attorneys disputed that characterization, describing each of the witnesses as brave for choosing to share their testimonies.

A prosecutor asked the jury if they wanted to live in a world where sex assaults go without any consequences.