Nygard set to testify at sex-assault trial and offer 'unequivocaland emphatic denial'

Peter Nygardwilltestify at his sexual assault trial, offering an"unequivocaland emphatic denial" that he engaged in any sexual misconduct with the five women who have claimed they were assaultedby the one-time Canadian fashion mogul.

The revelation was made by his defence attorney Brian Greenspan,whoprovided an opening statementto the jury Tuesday after the Crown closed their case. Although Nygard is under no legal obligation to testify,Greenspan said he would be calling on two witnesses, including his client.

"Peter Nygard has chosen to give up his right to remain silent," Greenspan said.

Nygard is expected to take the witness box on Wednesday. It will be thefirst time the jurorshearfrom Nygard, 82, who has pleaded not guilty in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice to five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement. Justice Robert Goldstein is presiding over the jury trial.

Nygard to give 'unequivocal and emphatic denial'

Greenspan said the defencewould refute the charges against Nygard, despite the passage of time, and make the "incomplete picture more complete."

The defence willreconstruct the reality of Nygard's life, both personal and professional, and includeNygard's"clear and unequivocal and emphatic denial ofsexual misconduct with respect to each of the five complainants," Greenspan said.

The Crown contends that in these five cases which cover a period from the late 1980s to 2005, and involve women ranging in age from 16 to their late 20s Nygard used his power and status to lure them to his downtown Toronto office building, located at 1 Niagara Street.

Once there, court has heardNygardwould often provide the women witha tour of the building, which would end in his private bedroom suite that included a giant bed, televisions on walls and a Jacuzzi.

And it's inside that suite, the Crown alleges backed by each of the five women who have testified that Nygard would attack and sexually assault them.

Greenspan said the jury will have an opportunity to assess Nygard's"testimonial trustworthiness." He saidthat his clientwill testify that when he wasinterviewedby police in October2021 and shown pictures of four of the five complainants, he had no recollection of meeting them or having any social interaction with the women.

Nygard, Greenspansaid, will attempt to provide insight and facts concerning his business and social life which "contradict the testimony ofthe four complainants and render their evidence unworthy of your acceptance."

Greenspan saidthat Nygardwill acknowledge he knows oneof the five complainants, who was a regular visitor to hisBahamas estate, but will deny any sexual act with her took place.

Complainant previously testified about assault

Court had previously heard fromthat complainant, who testified that she had been hired by Nygard to be a hostess for a party at his downtown Toronto headquarters in the mid 1990s. She told the trialthat once inside his private bedroom suite, some ofthe party guests started to undress, and she noticed there was pornography on two of the televisions.

The complainant said she was feeling uncomfortable and had a couple of drinks to calm down, but she blacked out and woke up naked on the bed with Nygard on top of her, pinning her down and assaulting her.The woman testified thatthe other guests had gathered around the bed to watch.

The complainantalso identified a womanwho she said was at the party and witnessed Nygard'salleged attack against her.

That womanidentified by the complainant was the first witness Greenspan called. She was also one of Nygard's ex-girlfriends, and heridentity was protected by a publication ban.

She denied she had been at a party in Toronto with the complainant or that she had ever witnessed her being assaulted by Nygard.

Under cross examination by Crown AttorneyNeville Golwalla, the ex-girlfriend did acknowledge she had witnessed parties where Nygard had engaged in group sex, including parties at 1 Niagara Street.

She was repeatedly asked by Golwalla whether she had discussed with Nygard if their relationship was exclusive, and whetherhe told her that he wanted anopen relationshipto see other women. She said she was having difficulty understandingGolwalla's questions, and aftergiving what he suggested were conflicting answers, she said she didn't remember.

In his opening statement, Greenspan said Nygard will also counter the narrative put forth by the Crownthat his private bedroom was some kind of "secretive lair" or "man cave."Instead, Greenpsan said, it was known as the Finland Suite, publiclydisplayed in promotional materials and displayed on tours of the building given to clients.

Some of the women also previously told the court that the mirrored door leading into his bedroom had no handle and that Nygard punched in a security code on a pad to unlock it from inside.

WATCH | Crown delivers opening statement in Nygard sex-assault trial:

Peter Nygard used power, status to sexually assault women, court told

12 months ago

Duration 2:02

Arguments have begun in Peter Nygard's Toronto trial. The former Canadian fashion mogul is accused of using his power and status to lure and sexually assault five women in a private bedroom suite in his downtown Toronto headquarters from 1988 to 2005.