TORONTO — The judge overseeing the sexual assault trial of billionaire businessman Frank Stronach says she “couldn’t possibly convict” him on the charges related to one of the complainants in the case.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy had voiced concerns Tuesday about the reliability of the evidence given by the first complainant to testify in the Toronto trial.
The judge said that while she did not think the woman was deliberately lying to the court to get money, she was concerned the complainant had “added layers and layers” to her story over the years to the point of believing them.
As court resumed this morning, Molloy said that after reviewing and reflecting on some things, she found the woman’s evidence to be unreliable to the point of being “fatally flawed.”
Stronach, who achieved fame and wealth as the founder of the auto parts giant Magna International, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to seven complainants.
However, prosecutors have withdrawn five charges related to three complainants over the course of the trial, leaving him with seven charges related to four women. Two of those charges stem from the allegations of the first complainant.
Lawyers are continuing their final submissions today.
Stronach’s defence lawyer argued Tuesday that his accusers lied and in some cases fabricated their accounts.
Leora Shemesh also criticized what she described as “tunnel vision” among the officers who investigated the decades-old allegations, arguing it tainted the evidence.
Crown prosecutors argued any inconsistencies in the complainants’ testimony were peripheral and did not affect the core of their allegations.
The defence previously said it would seek a stay of proceedings over alleged abuse of process, but told the court Wednesday it now wants the judge to consider the alleged abuse of process in weighing the case.
A motion on the matter is scheduled next week.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.
Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press
