Steven Galloway, an author and former head of the creative writing program at the University of British Columbia, wrapped up his testimony in a defamation trial in Vancouver. He is suing individuals who he claims defamed him by spreading unverified accusations of sexual misconduct. During the trial, Galloway faced questions from one of the defendants, Glynnis Kirchmeier, who is representing herself remotely.
Kirchmeier probed Galloway about her alleged involvement with a group advocating for victims of sexual violence and her communication with other defendants, including A.B., a former student who made the accusations against Galloway. Galloway expressed skepticism about Kirchmeier’s denial of involvement with the group, citing her presence on a fundraising page, and recalled feeling disturbed by one of her Tweets labeling him a rapist.
The court session revealed that the next witness will be Ronna Syed, a producer for the CBC show “The Fifth Estate.” Earlier in the trial, Galloway mentioned that Syed was the first journalist to contact him after the allegations emerged, to which he responded with a “no comment.”
Galloway initiated the defamation lawsuit in 2018, with some defendants settling and issuing public apologies. Despite the accusations of rape and sexual assault that he denies, Galloway claims his reputation and career suffered irreparable harm. An investigation by a former B.C. Supreme Court judge found the allegations to be unsubstantiated.
Recent developments in the trial indicate that A.B.’s defense has shifted away from alleging assault by Galloway to claiming reported assaults. Galloway admitted to feeling remorse over having an affair with A.B., a student protected by a publication ban, but noted the absence of rules barring faculty-student relationships at UBC, citing other instances he was aware of.
