Former Waitress Details Alleged Assault by Business Magnate in Emotional Court Testimony
In a tense downtown Toronto courtroom, a former cocktail waitress took the stand against Frank Stronach, describing an encounter from over four decades ago that left her feeling like a "trapped animal." The woman, now in her early sixties, appeared flustered and emotional as she recounted the alleged incident during the business magnate's sexual assault trial.
Dinner Meeting Turns to Alleged Assault
The complainant testified that she was working as a waitress at Rooney's, a dinner club owned by Stronach, when she was unexpectedly fired. Seeking answers, she contacted Stronach's office and was invited to dinner at the Admiral Inn waterfront restaurant. During the meal, she described Stronach as a "fatherly mentor" who was polite and respectful while explaining that her former manager had accused her of selling drugs—an allegation she vehemently denied.
After dinner, Stronach offered her a ride home but suggested stopping first at his nearby lakeside condo. Despite feeling it was "awkward," she agreed, a decision she later told the court she regrets. "I shouldn't have been up there, really. I shouldn't have gone," she testified.
The Atmosphere Changes Dramatically
Once inside the condo with its panoramic lake views, the complainant said Stronach's demeanor shifted completely. "The fatherly vibe was gone," she stated, fighting back tears as she described feeling the hairs on her neck stand up and hearing her heart pound in her ears. "I felt afraid to be in that apartment alone with him. I felt like a trapped animal and I had to get out of there. I was terrified."
As she attempted to leave, she testified that Stronach helped her with her coat but pressed his body against hers against the wall, groping her breasts and hips with his hands. "They were touching my breasts and they were touching my hips and just up and down my body," she recalled to the court.
Defence Questions Testimony Consistency
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Leora Shemesh challenged the complainant about inconsistencies in her statements. The woman acknowledged telling police recently that she never felt confined by Stronach and wondered if she had given him "mixed messages" at the time. She also admitted that in her initial police statement from September 2024, she seemed to downplay the incident, saying "I didn't get, you know, sexually assaulted," though she clarified this referred to not having intimate sex with him.
Assistant Crown attorney Julia Bellehumeur asked if she had ever suggested interest in an intimate relationship with Stronach. "I'm absolutely convinced that I made it clear to him that that wasn't my intention and that wasn't going to happen," the complainant responded. "He's older than my father. I had no interest whatsoever."
Background and Broader Case Context
Despite the alleged encounter, the woman later accepted employment at Magna International, Stronach's auto-parts company, where she worked for six years. She testified that Stronach remained polite and professional during her tenure there. She only came forward to police in August 2024 after seeing news reports about Stronach's arrest and his claims that the women accusing him were lying.
Frank Stronach, 93, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges including rape, sexual assault and forcible confinement related to seven complainants. The founder of Magna International faces a separate trial in Newmarket on similar charges later this year. This testimony represents the second of seven complainants expected to take the stand, with a third scheduled to testify the following day.
The trial is being presided over by Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy in a judge-alone proceeding at the 361 University Avenue courthouse in Toronto.
