Frank Stronach Trial Sees Crown Narrow Charges to Seven of Twelve

Prosecutors will seek convictions on seven of the 12 charges originally laid against frank stronach in his Toronto sexual assault trial, the Crown announced after reviewing evidence. The decision narrows the prosecutable counts and affects multiple complainants whose testimony featured in the earlier phase of the case.

Jelena Vlacic on withdrawn and conceded charges

Crown attorney Jelena Vlacic said the prosecution concedes it cannot meet the threshold of proof beyond a reasonable doubt on two sexual assault charges tied to two complainants. Prosecutors previously withdrew a charge of forcible confinement and sought to withdraw a charge of sexual assault related to the sixth of seven complainants to testify.

Prosecutors finished presenting their evidence last week after calling all seven complainants and a friend of the final complainant as witnesses, the Crown confirmed. That presentation followed months of case preparation and led to the Crown narrowing the list of counts it will pursue.

Frank Stronach is 93 and pleaded not guilty to 12 charges

Frank Stronach is 93 and initially pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to alleged incidents stretching as far back as the 1970s. A photograph shows Frank Stronach arriving at a Toronto court on Feb. 3 ET during the earlier stages of the proceedings.

Prosecutors called seven complainants to testify about incidents they say involved frank stronach, and the testimony formed the core of the Crown’s case before the decision to narrow the sought convictions. The trial began mid-February after some delay.

Leora Shemesh and Justice Anne Molloy on directed verdicts and rulings

Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy suggested last week that Stronach would be found not guilty on the attempted rape charge and on counts related to the sixth complainant. Defence lawyer Leora Shemesh is asking the judge to enter not-guilty verdicts on all five charges at issue.

The defence has indicated plans to press for directed verdicts on two charges and to challenge remaining counts as the case moves into its defence phase. Those motions and rulings will shape which allegations remain for the jury to consider.

The defence is starting its case today, calling as its first witness a man related to the waterfront building where Stronach had a condo decades ago.