Jian Ghomeshi Trial Enters Week Two

The woman, who can not be publicly identified, was called to the stand at the start of the second week of Ghomeshi’s trial on four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking.

DeCoutere had sent several emails to Ghomeshi and one after the alleged assault.

A woman who testified that Ghomeshi bit her shoulder and put his hands around her neck as they were making out in a Toronto park, initially said that while she was friends with another complainant, they never discussed the specifics of the allegations.

Her testimony began after the judge held a closed-door hearing this morning to deal with new evidence that came from the woman’s new statement to police on Friday.

Ghomeshi’s lawyer Marie Heinen noted that the two women had exchanged 5,000 messages, beginning on October 29, 2014 – the same day DeCoutere went public with her allegations. He said that, while the defence’s position with DeCoutere is that the alleged sexual assault and choking did not occur, they also challenged her motivations for coming forward to police and media in 2014, suggesting she was seeking fame and attention.

Jenny Wright of the St. John’s Status of Women Council says less that 10 percent report sexual assault and the current court proceedings are making it very hard for many victims.

Lucy is one of three women testifying against Jian Ghomeshi.

But DeCoutere said that doesn’t change the fact that she was assaulted.

The lawyer also said that DeCoutere and the witness had a Facebook conversation 11 days before the witness spoke to police in which the witness agrees to corroborate DeCoutere’s evidence.

The police had asked, of course, if she and Ghomeshi had ever had sexual discussions, and she said no.

“I got out of the auto, slammed the door, told him he was insane, told him to never call me again”, she said.

“I realized it wasn’t an isolated incident”, she told the court.

The trial heard that the woman’s dates with Ghomeshi ended after they got into an argument following a party where he kept berating her best friend – an incident which set off “warning bells” for her. The two later reconnected at a city park and would eventually “make out” on a park bench.

DeCoutere says in the message: “Guess what, the Toronto cops want your number”.

Now what she’d originally told the police, quite specifically, was that that night, “I took a cab”.

Ghomeshi acknowledged in 2014 that he engaged in rough sex acts, but said it was consensual.

Details of what was disclosed have not been discussed in open court, but the complainant told the Crown that coverage of the trial so far made her feel that she should disclose the details of her interactions with Ghomeshi after the alleged assault.

Another focus of Henein’s cross-examination was the witness’ relationship and communication with one of the other complainants, actress Lucy DeCoutere.