North

Former Yellowknife city councillor violently attacked her multiple times, woman testifies

WARNING: This story includes details of abuse. A woman took the stand at the Yellowknife courthouse on Wednesday to describe being attacked violently multiple times by a former city councillor. 

Robin Williams was at N.W.T. Supreme Court in Yellowknife on Wednesday. He faces 14 charges, including assault

A smiling man stands before trees and green space.
Robin Williams is a former Yellowknife councillor and the owner of Williams Electronics. He appeared in N.W.T. Supreme Court Wednesday for the second day of his trial for charges of sexual and physical assault. (Submitted)

WARNING: This story includes details of abuse.

A woman took the stand at the Yellowknife courthouse on Wednesday to testify that a former city councillor physically abused her numerous times.

Robin Williams, who served on council from 2018 to 2022, is on trial for 14 charges of assault and sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all of them.

The woman, whose identity is protected under a publication ban, described one incident she said happened in 2017. She said Williams knocked her to the ground, dragged her by her hair and spat chewing tobacco on her.

The woman said she took a photo of herself after the incident to document it. The photo was shown to the judge and jury.

She described another violent interaction where she said Williams threw her on the ground and kicked her as hard as he could about five times. 

She said he also slammed a door on her arm around five or six times, leaving it bruised.  

The woman has also alleged that Williams slammed her head into a car door and broke her finger.

Williams' lawyer hasn't had the chance to cross examine the complainant. 

The trial will continue at N.W.T. Supreme Court on Thursday.