The start of the Toronto trial for Canadian business tycoon Frank Stronach, accused of sexual assault, faced a delay on Tuesday. Stronach’s lawyer requested more time to handle the extensive new materials related to the case, including video statements, received recently.
Stronach, a 93-year-old billionaire and founder of Magna International, is facing 12 charges involving seven complainants for incidents dating back to the 1970s. Despite denying all allegations, he agreed to switch from a jury trial to a judge-alone trial with the Crown’s consent.
The defence team, led by lawyer Leora Shemesh, expressed the need for additional preparation time due to the high volume of new disclosure. Both sides are eager to proceed with the trial but acknowledged the necessity for adequate preparation.
Prosecutors did not oppose the delay request, and legal submissions are ongoing behind closed doors. The case is set to return to court on Thursday for further updates.
Stronach is also scheduled to stand trial in Newmarket, Ont., later this year, with motions expected to begin next month. Peel regional police charged Stronach with 18 offences involving 13 complainants in 2024, leading to the current legal proceedings.