2 women told witness that Toronto city councillor assaulted them, court hears

WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

A Crown witness in the trial of Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson, who is charged with two counts of sexual assault, said the complainants told her about the alleged assaults after they happened. 

Thompson, 64, who represents Scarborough Centre, was charged in 2022 following a Canada Day weekend gathering at a Muskoka cottage. He pleaded not guilty. 

The witness, a 24-year-old masters student, is not one of the two complainants in this case. 

The identities of the witness and complainants are protected by a publication ban.

The witness previously testified at the trial — which is being heard by a judge without a jury in Bracebridge, Ont. — that Thompson invited her to a networking event at the cottage. 

She said Thompson, who she considered a mentor at the time, gave the impression there would be a mixed group of professionals. But when he drove her to the cottage at the beginning of the weekend, the woman testified, they were the only people there when they arrived. 

Court heard the complainants arrived at the cottage on Sunday, and that both complainants and the witness spent most of the day drinking and smoking joints outside. 

During cross examination by Thompson's lawyers, the witness said she saw Thompson putting sunscreen on one of the complainants, in what she said looked like a massage. She recalled seeing Thompson touching the complainant's backside. 

Defence lawyer Leora Shemesh then referred to the witness's police statement, in which the witness said the complainant got up and told her Thompson had digitally penetrated her during the massage. 

The witness said she did not tell police, friends or family after hearing about the alleged assault, as she was "in shock… not knowing what to do." 

Court also heard the second complainant told the witness she had performed oral sex on Thompson without wanting to. The complainant said her memory was in and out and that she passed out on the bed, the witness testified. 

After the cottage weekend, the second complainant told the witness she could no longer work and had anxiety. 

Thompson never asked the witness to have sex with him, the witness said, but she testified the weekend was set up to bring her guard down and make her vulnerable. Earlier this week, she testified that after arriving at the cottage, Thompson encouraged her to drink throughout the day and in the evening told her "to feel free to get naked."

Complainant 'repeatedly' said no, Crown said Monday

During opening remarks on Monday, Crown prosecutor Mareike Newhouse said Thompson organized a "networking event" at the cottage that weekend, giving the impression there would be a large group in attendance. But the two complainants were surprised to find only two others at the cottage when they arrived, Newhouse said.

Newhouse said the Crown will show Thompson encouraged both complainants to drink alcohol and later massaged the first complainant in a manner to which she did not consent. 

The Crown said the second complainant will testify she passed out after a day of heavy drinking and woke up to find Thompson standing over her in the middle of the night. The complainant says Thompson forced himself on her, Newhouse said.

Although Newhouse said "she was very, very drunk" and her memory is spotty, he said "what she does clearly remember is she repeatedly told Mr. Thompson, 'No.'"

Despite that, the Crown told the court, Thompson put his penis on her and ejaculated on her.