Sixth Accuser Provides Emotional Testimony in Frank Stronach Sexual Assault Trial
A sixth complainant has delivered harrowing testimony in the ongoing sexual assault trial of billionaire Frank Stronach, describing an alleged rape that occurred on Valentine's Day in 1986 after meeting at a Toronto disco. The woman, now in her early 70s, became so emotional during her court appearance that Justice Anne Molloy had to instruct her to pause and take deep breaths to compose herself.
Valentine's Day Encounter at Rooney's Disco
The registered nurse testified that she decided to visit Rooney's disco on February 14, 1986, after calling ahead and being instructed to wear red. She described herself at the time as tall, thin, and "very, very pretty," looking younger than her mid-30s. The club was unexpectedly empty when she arrived, but a group of men soon approached the bar.
Among them was "Frank," who she described as kind, smooth-talking, and well-dressed though not particularly handsome. He never revealed his true identity as the CEO and founder of auto-parts giant Magna International. The man bought her drinks, treated her to shrimp on ice, danced with her, and gave her one of the club's balloons with a request to be his valentine.
"He knew how to play up to you, to win your trust," the woman testified about the initial encounter.Alleged Assault at Harbour Castle Condo
When the subway closed at 2:30 a.m., the woman accepted Frank's offer to drive her home. Instead of taking her directly, she testified that he insisted on stopping at his Harbour Castle condo for coffee. Once inside the high-level suite with panoramic lake views, she said he suddenly appeared naked and beckoned her to join him in his large water bed with a mirrored ceiling.
"I started panicking. The reality hit me," she recalled, nearly hyperventilating at the memory. "I realized what's going to happen to me."
She testified that she managed to temporarily fend him off by threatening to break his windows and throw herself into the lake if he didn't take her home. He put his pants back on, but as they sat on his sofa drinking Dubonnet, she alleges he pulled down her red pants and raped her despite her attempts to fight him off.
Lasting Trauma and Delayed Reporting
"I was numb. I felt dirty. I felt like I was used like a piece of trash," she said through tears. "It was the worst experience of my life."
The woman testified that the assault fundamentally changed her, destroying her ability to trust others. "My trust was so betrayed. I trusted this man and he betrayed my trust. And he betrayed my trust not just towards him but towards everyone who came after him," she sobbed. "That's why I'm alone ... I should be married with beautiful children."
After finally driving her home—dropping her on the street rather than at her apartment building—she says Frank had the audacity to offer her a job at Rooney's. "I slammed the car door and I said to him, and I'm sure he remembers: 'Take your job and shove it. I am a registered nurse. I don't need your job.'"
Years of Silence and Eventual Police Report
The woman explained she didn't report the alleged assault immediately due to shame. She only discovered Frank's true identity months later when she saw his photo in a newspaper. She attempted to confront him at the club but was escorted out by a bouncer.
For years, she kept the secret while developing depression and anxiety, eventually becoming what she described as "a social recluse" who had to give up her nursing career. Unlike other complainants who came forward after Stronach's 2024 arrest, this woman reported the alleged assault to Toronto Police in 2006 after being convinced by a neighbor.
"I should have done it a long time ago," she said quietly during testimony. "That was a mistake."Trial Developments and Charges
Following her testimony, the Crown indicated they would withdraw the forcible confinement charge related to this witness. Stronach now faces 11 charges involving seven women for alleged incidents occurring between 1977 and 1990. The billionaire has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The woman's testimony was cut short when Justice Molloy found she was rambling, too tired, and too emotional to continue. Her testimony and cross-examination are scheduled to resume on Thursday. The trial continues as more witnesses are expected to provide evidence in the high-profile case against the automotive magnate.
