Almost three years after first dealing with costs of sexual assault, sitting Toronto metropolis councillor Michael Thompson started to inform a Barrie, Ont., courtroom his account of occasions surrounding a Muskoka cottage getaway, presenting himself as a person prepared to help these in want.
Thompson, 65, has maintained his innocence and pleaded not responsible to 2 counts of sexual assault. Two girls have beforehand testified that in a cottage keep over the Canada Day lengthy weekend in 2022, Thompson sexually assaulted them. One lady alleges Thompson groped her breasts and buttocks underneath her bathing swimsuit whereas making use of sunscreen, whereas one other testified the Scarborough Centre councillor pressured oral intercourse upon her whereas she was severely intoxicated and had informed him “no.”
On Tuesday, Thompson took the stand in Barrie and commenced telling the court docket his facet of the story. He started with how he first met one other visitor he had invited to the cottage, a 3rd lady who testified within the fall and whose identification is protected by a publication ban.
The councillor stated he met the lady, who was 22 years previous on the time, at a Yorkville artwork gallery occasion. That visitor beforehand informed the court docket that Thompson had approached her and insisted she have a glass of wine.
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Thompson provided a unique account of the occasions and stated the lady had approached him. The pair met once more later that evening at a neighbouring restaurant and on the finish of the evening, Thompson stated he provided her a journey residence to Richmond Hill after studying the lady had missed her GO Bus.
Throughout the drive, Thompson stated the lady turned emotional talking about her household and lack of employment alternatives and after studying she was prone to having her cellphone service reduce, he stated he provided her two $50 payments to pay for it. Thompson stated it wasn’t out of the bizarre to offer cash to folks in want and stated the witness was so grateful she gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek.
That very same witness beforehand informed the court docket she thought Thompson’s provide of cash was uncalled for and located it unusual. She additionally testified that it was through the drive that Thompson first introduced up the cottage weekend, which was offered as a possibility to community.
Thompson stated it will have been not possible to make the cottage provide at the moment, as a result of he hadn’t but been loaned the cottage. He stated it was later that lawyer Calvin Berry, who briefly represented Thompson when he was charged in 2022, provided to mortgage the councillor the Muskoka cottage for the lengthy weekend.
The councillor additionally denied ever presenting the weekend as a piece occasion and stated he wished to go to the cottage to get away from work. All three witnesses who testified for the Crown have stated Thompson spent many of the weekend on work calls, at some factors saying he was chatting with Premier Doug Ford.
Thompson additionally testified that he had informed the witness to ask her mom and siblings, however they couldn’t attend. He additionally stated he was inviting everybody he knew to the cottage, together with their members of the family.
Earlier within the day, defence lawyer Leora Shemesh’s first witness was a lady who recognized herself as a pal of Thompson. She informed the court docket that Thompson had invited her and her household to the Muskoka cottage for the Labour Day lengthy weekend in 2022, however finally declined the provide.
Thompson later testified that the provide was in reality for the Canada Day weekend and that he would have been campaigning for his re-election over the September weekend.
Thompson is anticipated to proceed his testimony when the trial continues on Wednesday.
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