Testimony ends first week of Toronto councilor's sexual assault trial

After three days of testimony, the first witness in the sexual assault case of longtime Toronto politician Michael Thompson has finished a lengthy cross-examination in which she said the Scarbourgh councilor strongly encouraged her drinking and made her increasingly uncomfortable .

Thompson, 64, was charged with two counts of sexual assault in September 2022 following a long weekend getaway in Muskoka. The councilor, who was re-elected about a month after the allegations became public, denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

On Monday, Crown lawyer Mareike Newhouse laid out the case against Thompson in an Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge. The allegations included that he performed a massage of a sexual nature on one woman and that he forced himself on a second woman.

During Newhouse's overview, she said the second complainant was severely intoxicated and had gaps in her memory, but clearly remembers telling Thompson that she said “no.”

The identities of both complainants are protected by a publication ban, along with the identity of a third woman who was also a guest at the house during the 2022 long weekend.

That woman was first called by the Crown and spent three days under questioning by Newhouse and Thompson's lawyer, Leora Shemesh.

The witness, who was 22 at the time, said he met Thompson in early June 2022 at a Yorkville art gallery and got the impression he was interested in acting as a mentor.

She testified that a weekend invitation to a cottage getaway in Port Carling came with the expectation of networking and meeting others who could help her career. But soon after arriving at the cabin, the witness said she learned that the only guest for the first two days would be Thompson's friend, identified only as “Tracey” during the trial.

During the first two days, the witness describes Thompson strongly encouraging alcohol consumption, which she said she complied with to adapt. The witness also stated that Tracey brought marijuana that the three of them smoked, after which she said Thompson told her “feel free to get naked.

The witness said it wasn't the only time Thompson asked her to take off her clothes, saying that on another occasion Tracey had taken off her top to sunbathe and Thompson again encouraged her to “get naked.”

The witness also said she felt increasingly uncomfortable over the weekend, including after Tracey left and two new guests arrived. The witness said the other two women who arrived, who are the complainants in the case, also appeared to be waiting for other people at the villa when they arrived.

Thompson's attorney challenged the witness on several statements she made to police during the investigation that Thompson and Tracey made her feel as if she was being groomed for sex trafficking purposes and that Thompson was trying to have sex with her.

Shemesh asked why the woman remained in contact with Tracey for weeks after the long weekend if she felt she was acting as a sex trafficker. The witness said she remained confused about their intentions, but it was upon further reflection that she felt grooming techniques were being used on her.

The defense also questioned why the witness continued to take photos over the weekend, including posing for a photo after one of the two complainants allegedly told her that Thompson had digitally penetrated her during a massage on the dock just hours earlier. The complainant responded that she felt safer and more comfortable around the two younger guests in Thompson's absence.

The witness said he also sent text messages to Thompson after the long weekend to test his sincerity in helping his career. But she resisted Shemesh's claim that he was jealous of the attention the counselor was paying another guest.

The witness also said that throughout the weekend she felt coerced by Thompson, including when he gave her a massage with a massage gun in her room. “Michael would do something to encourage all of us to feel how bouncy his bed is,” the witness said.

During his testimony, Thompson could be seen shaking his head in court, including when it was claimed he told the witness to take a photo of the two complainants posing in bikinis. The Scarborough Center councilor said little other than greetings as he entered and exited Bracebridge Court.

On Wednesday, while court was not in session, Thompson participated virtually in the Toronto city council meeting. Although he lost many official positions following the accusations, including the ceremonial title of deputy mayor, Mayor Olivia Chow appointed him to serve on the city's FIFA World Cup steering committee.

After the first day of the trial, Chow said she was pleased to allow him to continue to serve in this role, noting that he has long experience in the city's economic development process.

Speaking to reporters at the end of Friday's session, Shemesh said she was pleased with the progress of the trial and confident that the crux of the matter was approaching.

Originally scheduled to take place over five days, the lengthy cross-examination of the first witness has delayed the trial and is expected to add at least three more days. Shemesh did not say whether Thompson would testify on his own behalf, other than to say “you’ll have to stay tuned.”

The trial resumes on October 21.