Fifth Accuser in Frank Stronach Trial Faces Intense Cross-Examination Over Credibility
A fifth complainant in the ongoing sexual assault trial of billionaire Frank Stronach provided harrowing testimony about an alleged 1990 rape, but faced a brutal cross-examination that challenged her reliability and past encounters with the justice system.
Alleged 1990 Hotel Room Assault
The woman, an esthetician, testified that she met Stronach in 1990 after bumping into him at a hotel restaurant. She described feeling a "spark" and agreed to meet him for lunch the following day. During their conversation, she confided in him about personal troubles, leading to an invitation to his hotel suite for more privacy.
"I trusted him," she told the court. "I saw him many times. He was a gentleman."
That trust, she alleged, was violently betrayed when Stronach backed her onto a bed, ripped off her clothes, and ignored her pleas to stop. She claimed he told her, "You will love it," during the assault. The experience left her fearing for her life. "I didn't know if I was going to make it out of the room alive," she testified.
Defense Attacks Credibility and Consistency
Stronach's defense lawyer, Leora Shemesh, launched a scathing cross-examination, accusing the complainant of constantly embellishing her story and offering "new memories" during testimony. Shemesh pointed out several details the woman mentioned for the first time in court that were absent from her initial police statements and a follow-up statement given just last month.
- Stronach commenting on her "beautiful breasts"
- Bleeding after the encounter
- Stronach apologizing
- Stuffing her panties into her purse before leaving
The witness explained the omissions were due to shame and discomfort, and that specific questions from police had not prompted these details earlier. "I just remember things, I'm flashing back as to what event took place 40 years ago," she said.
Questioning Motives and Immediate Actions
Shemesh suggested the woman's anger stemmed not from assault, but from being jilted after what she hoped would become a relationship. "What you were really upset about is that you didn't get the relationship, or the love, that you were looking for," the lawyer charged, a claim the witness firmly denied.
The defense also questioned why the woman did not immediately report the alleged assault or leave the hotel room promptly. The complainant stated she was sobbing and that Stronach was trying to calm her down before allowing her to depart, recalling he said, "sorry, we'll see each again."
Past Legal Issues Undermine Witness Reliability
The cross-examination delivered a significant blow to the complainant's credibility when Shemesh confronted her about her extensive history with the justice system. Contrary to her claim of being involved in only a handful of lawsuits, evidence showed she had been sued nearly two dozen times by various entities, with multiple judgments against her.
One past judgment included a judge's searing comment about her lack of credibility in court. Furthermore, Shemesh presented bankruptcy documents from over a decade ago, contradicting the witness's insistence she had never declared bankruptcy.
The lawyer also highlighted a prior incident where the woman had a man briefly arrested for threatening her, but police later released him after surveillance video showed she was confrontational, not terrified. Shemesh pointedly noted, "In this case, the one against Mr. Stronach, we don't have access to a video, right?" to which the witness agreed.
Trial Context and Next Steps
Frank Stronach, the 93-year-old founder of auto-parts giant Magna International, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges involving seven women, with allegations dating from 1977 to 1990. This trial is being heard by Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy without a jury.
The credibility and reliability of this fifth complainant are now central issues for Justice Molloy to weigh. The trial is set to continue with the testimony of a sixth complainant expected shortly.
