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City Council Member Michael Thompson went on trial this week, with the verdict expected to reach beyond the courtroom's proceedings.

Two individuals claim that a council member subjected them to physical attacks over a holiday period at a Muskoka lake house in 2022. The accused has pleaded innocent.

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Two females accuse a town councilor of physical attacks during a lengthy vacation at a Muskoka...
Two females accuse a town councilor of physical attacks during a lengthy vacation at a Muskoka cottage in 2022. He has entered a plea of innocence.

City Council Member Michael Thompson went on trial this week, with the verdict expected to reach beyond the courtroom's proceedings.

Toronto's City Councillor Michael Thompson and the Continuing Sexual Assault Saga

Meet Edward Keenan, your friendly neighborhood Toronto-based city columnist for the Star, reachable via his email: [email protected]

In the chilly glare of courtroom No. 8's fluorescent lights at the Barrie Courthouse, a remarkable spectacle unfolded on a Thursday afternoon in mid-May. Michael Thompson, a Toronto city councillor, stood near the gallery benches, recounting the seemingly endless stretch of time since he was hit with charges of sexual assault. The trial, elongated by a series of delays and wrangles, was finally underway.

The episode in question happened back in July 2022, at a Muskoka cottage. Two women claim that the now 65-year-old politician, in the guise of applying suntan lotion, groped them inappropriately, while another accuses him of brazenly forcing himself upon her in the dead of night. The charges were officially laid in September 2022 but the courtroom didn't come alive until October 2024, when it was slated for a swift, five-day stint. However, the trial has since dragged on for a grueling seven months.

At a hearing in April 2025, Thompson's lawyer voiced concerns about the distressing delays, which Thompson echoed in both days and minutes.

The courtroom wasn't filled with buzzing journalists, but rather, the homeless residents of a nearby shelter. Staff at the courthouseseemed perplexed when asked for directions to the accused, and the media presence outside was more paltry than the crowd a hot dog stand would draw. Amidst the uncomfortable quiet of the waiting area, on the day the trial resumed, Thompson sat engrossed in conversation with a witness, while an accuser lurked nearby, immersed in her phone.

When Thompson eventually took the stand, he launched into a detailed denial of the testimonies of the three women who had spoken on behalf of the Crown. His retorts were laced with dismissive chuckles and condescending double-takes. To accept his version of events, one would have to believe that the three women concocted most of the crucial details from scratch.

Cross-examination is scheduled to resume later in May, and the judge will then have to decide whether Thompson's interpretation of the events raises reasonable doubts about the specific criminal charges against him. But the trial isn't only about determining whether Thompson broke the law. As a public figure, his conduct is being evaluated under the glaring spotlight of public opinion.

Thompson and the public will have to endure the trial's prolonged conclusion before the legal questions are settled. However, the verbal silence is over. The testimonies of everyone who was present have been heard. Thompson's colleagues and constituents are now tasked with forming their own judgments about their comfort in associating with or representing him. In the months to come, their responses will make for an intriguing discourse. Or not.

Opinion pieces such as this one are based on the columnist's personal perspectives, interpretations and judgments of the facts, data, and events.

Insights- The allegations date back to July 2022 at a Muskoka cottage.- The trial started in October 2024 and has spanned over seven months.- Thompson has denied the allegations in a comprehensive, detailed manner.- The outcome of the trial will not only reflect on the question of criminal guilt but also on Thompson's conduct as a public official in the court of public opinion.- The trial, marked by delays, testimonies, and legal wrangles, is set to conclude with the resumption of cross-examination in May 2025.

  1. Edward Keenan, a city columnist based in Toronto, is reachable via his email, [email protected].
  2. In the Barrie Courthouse, the trial of Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson for sexual assault started in October 2024 and has lasted for over seven months.
  3. The trial has been marked by a series of delays and legal wrangles, which Michael Thompson's lawyer has voiced concerns about.
  4. The media presence during the trial has been minimal, with the courtroom filled with homeless residents from a nearby shelter instead.
  5. When Thompson took the stand, he denied the allegations made against him by three women, presenting a version of events that seemed unlikely to many.
  6. The outcome of the trial will not only decide whether Thompson is guilty of breaking the law, but also how the public perceives his conduct as a public official.
  7. In the coming months, Thompson's colleagues and constituents will have to form their opinions about their comfort in associating with or representing him based on the trial's proceedings.
  8. Opinion pieces such as this one are based on the columnist's personal perspectives, interpretations, and judgments of the facts and events surrounding the trial.

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