Sexual assault trial of Toronto councillor Michael Thompson begins

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

At the opening of the sexual assault trial of Michael Thompson in Bracebridge, Ont., Monday, the prosecution told the court that, at a cottage gathering in Muskoka in 2022, the Toronto city councillor had touched one woman without consent and forced himself on another who was heavily intoxicated.

Thompson, 64, who serves as councillor for Scarborough Centre, was charged in 2022 in connection with a Canada Day party at a cottage owned by defence lawyer Calvin Barry, who originally represented Thompson but dropped him as a client because of their personal friendship.

Thompson faces two counts of sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty.

On Monday, Crown attorney Mareike Newhouse provided the prosecution's opening remarks, telling the court that over the course of the trial the two complainants would tell how they arrived at the cottage, believing others would be present, and how they were later sexually assaulted. 

Complainant 'repeatedly' said no, Crown says

The identities of the two complainants and the Crown's first witness in the trial, another woman who was at the cottage that weekend, are protected by a publication ban.

Thompson had business relations with one of the complainants, Newhouse said, and organized a "networking event" at the cottage on Canada Day weekend in 2022, 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 that Thompson encouraged the women to drink alcohol and later massaged the first complainant in a manner to which she did not consent. 

She 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, she said "what she does clearly remember is she repeatedly told Mr. Thompson, 'No.'"

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

Witness says Thompson encouraged women to drink

The Crown's remarks were followed by the testimony of the first witness, a 24-year-old masters student who called Thompson a mentor at the time of the alleged incident.

The witness, 22 at the time, said she met Thompson at an art gallery before the weekend in question, where they discussed work and he encouraged her pursuits. Thompson offered her money when she told him she was struggling, she said, and invited her to a networking event at a cottage, making it out like there would be a mixed group of professionals.

"That narrative shifted," she said.

The witness said that as the weekend approached, Thompson mentioned some people had dropped out. He drove her to the cottage at the beginning of the weekend, she said, and they were the only people there when they arrived.

He encouraged her to drink throughout the day, she said, and in the evening told her "to feel free to get naked."

Another, older woman was present for part of Saturday and Sunday morning, she said. The woman brought cannabis, which they consumed, she said, and Thompson asked the witness to smoke it out of his mouth.

She said the complainants showed up on Sunday and Thompson also encouraged them to consume alcohol. 

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Leora Shemesh focused on what the witness knew before she arrived at the cottage, particularly how many people she had expected to be present. The witness maintained that she was under the impression it would be a networking opportunity with a mixed group invited.

The trial wrapped for the day before the defence could complete cross-examination. It will continue throughout the week, with the complainants expected to testify on Wednesday and Thursday.

The charges against Thompson were laid in October 2022. Thompson won re-election for Scarborough Centre later that month, but also resigned as chair of Toronto's Economic and Community Development Committee and as deputy mayor for the east end of the city.