Frank Stronach, the founder of Magna International, was found guilty on Friday morning on two of five charges by Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The 93-year-old was convicted of indecent assault and sexual assault, with his sentencing delayed until September 17.
Details of the Guilty Verdict
The indecent assault charge involved complainant V.T., a legal secretary, and dates back to an incident in the fall of 1977. After having dinner with Stronach at a restaurant, she testified that the assault occurred at Stronach's apartment in the Balliol Street and Mount Pleasant Road area.
The sexual assault charge involved complainant A.S., a cocktail waitress at Rooney's at the time of the incident, which occurred between January 4, 1983, and December 31, 1984, at Stronach's Harbourfront condo.
Not Guilty on Other Counts
Stronach was found not guilty on 10 counts, including: count 1 of rape (historic offence); count 2 of indecent assault (historic offence); count 3 of sexual assault; count 4 of unlawful confinement; count 5 of rape; count 7 of sexual assault; count 8 of sexual assault; count 9 of rape (historic offence); count 10 of indecent assault (historic offence); and count 11 of sexual assault.
Trial Background
The trial, which began in February after some delays, initially included 12 charges from seven complainants. However, prosecutors decided to proceed with seven charges from four complainants. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents between 1977 and 1990. None of the women were known to each other.
Judge Molloy added to the collapse of the Crown case by announcing that she could not convict based on the evidence of a fourth complainant, as her testimony was deemed “not even remotely reliable,” including changing evidence about the year the alleged assault occurred.
Stronach, who did not testify at the Toronto trial, pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial was not by jury, as Stronach elected to stand trial before Justice Molloy.
Upcoming Trial
Stronach's second sexual assault trial has been delayed until May of next year. The Newmarket trial was previously set to start in the fall but was postponed as he awaited the verdict on his Toronto sexual assault case.
With files from Michele Mandel.
