The trial of Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson continued in Bracebridge on Thursday and Friday with testimony from a key Crown witness who told the court that she felt “groomed” while describing the events that allegedly transpired during a 2022 Canada Day weekend at a Muskoka cottage. Thompson, 64, who represents Scarborough Centre, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault.
The witness, a 24-year-old university student whose identity is protected by a publication ban, testified that Thompson invited her to what he described as a networking event at the cottage. Expecting a gathering of professionals, the witness instead arrived to find herself alone with Thompson and his friend Tracy. She was later joined by two other young women, identified as the complainants in the case. The weekend, described by the witness as increasingly disquieting, involved heavy drinking and marijuana use and culminated in alleged assaults on the two complainants.
The witness, who says she was not herself assaulted, recounted feeling uneasy throughout the weekend. In her testimony, the witness compared Tracey to Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein. “This is weird, and this is a grooming process going on,” she told the court, describing how Tracey’s behaviour raised suspicions of grooming for sexual exploitation. She further testified that two women, who arrived at the cottage later in the weekend, told her about their experiences with Thompson. One woman confided that Thompson had digitally penetrated her while giving her a massage on the cottage dock. Another revealed that she performed oral sex on Thompson, despite not wanting to, after passing out drunk.
In cross-examination, the defence, led by lawyer Leora Shemesh, questioned the witness as to why she did not immediately leave the cottage or contact the police after the alleged grooming and assaults. Shemesh then questioned the witness about the nature of her text message communication with Tracy and Thompson after the weekend, including a message to Thompson that read: “Just arrived home safe! Thanks for the fun, relaxing cottage weekend :).”
The witness responded that she was still processing what had happened and was testing whether Tracey’s and Thompson’s mentorship offers were genuine.
The trial will resume on October 21, when the complainants are expected to testify.
Toronto Councillor Michael Thompson Faces Sexual Assault Trial In Bracebridge