Toronto Radio: Jian Ghomeshi Faces Sexual Assault Charges

• Withdraws $55M Suit Against CBC

After weeks of swirling allegations of sex crimes, radio personality Jian Ghomeshi finally appeared in public, sitting alone in a downtown Toronto courtroom as five charges were read against him.

Jian Ghomeshi and his attorney

The former CBC radio host faces four sexual-assault charges and one count of overcoming resistance by choking, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The Toronto Globe&Mail reports defense lawyer Marie Henein told reporter outside that her client would plead not guilty to all charges. He would not be commenting to the media, she said.

The 47-year-old, once one of Canada’s most in-demand cultural icons, was released on $100,000 bail into the custody of his mother, Sara, after turning over his passport and agreeing to remain in Ontario. Mr. Ghomeshi is banned from possessing any weapons and must stay away from his three accusers.

He surrendered to Toronto police early Wednesday morning, following a month-long investigation by the sex crimes unit.

The CBC abruptly fired Mr. Ghomeshi on Oct. 26, after his own lawyers showed two of the company’s executives incriminating photos, video, e-mails and text messages. Later, leaders at the public broadcaster said the “graphic evidence” they viewed left them convinced that “Jian Ghomeshi caused physical injury to a woman.”

Ghomeshi had volunteered the footage to prove that his sexual encounters were consensual, albeit rough. It appears the meeting was prompted by growing concern among Mr. Ghomeshi and his advisers that allegations of abusive sexual encounters might soon be published in the press.

Since then, at least nine women have spoken to several media outlets, alleging that they were physically or sexually abused by Mr. Ghomeshi. All but two of the women have spoken anonymously.

Ghomeshi filed a $55-million lawsuit against his former employer. But on Tuesday, the CBC confirmed the two sides had reached an agreement that will see Ghomeshi withdraw his suit and pay the public broadcaster $18,000 in costs. He has decided to address his firing through a union grievance instead, “in binding arbitration in accordance with the collective agreement between them,” according to Mr. Ghomeshi’s civil lawyer, Jonathan Lisus.

He is due back in court on Jan. 8, 2015.

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