Judge Signals Not-Guilty Verdicts on Three Counts in Frank Stronach Trial

Overview

• Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy indicated she will enter a not‑guilty verdict on an attempted rape charge after prosecutors said the evidence failed on the required mens rea.
• The judge also indicated not‑guilty findings on two counts tied to the sixth complainant after the Crown withdrew forcible confinement and moved to withdraw sexual assault, reducing the case to nine charges from the original 12.
• Prosecutors have closed their case, and defence counsel Leora Shemesh plans to begin presenting the defence next week.
• All seven complainants testified during the proceedings, as did a friend and colleague of one complainant, though the sixth complainant did not finish cross‑examination due to health concerns.
• Stronach, a billionaire founder of Magna International, has denied the allegations and maintains not‑guilty pleas to the remaining charges.