K'naan's Trial: Alleged Assault & Delayed Complaint

0:00On March 11, the sexual assault trial of Grammy-winning rapper Kanan got underway this week in Quebec City. The Somali Canadian artist, whose real name is Kainan Abdi Worsam, faces charges from an alleged incident back in summer, 2010, at a Hilton. Hotel during the festival, they take a Quebec. Prosecutors say he assaulted a woman in her 20s after they connected online and met up. The woman took the stand on Tuesday, describing how Kainan seemed friendly at first, but turned aggressive when she brought up protection. She testified waking up to non-consensual sex that night. They cross paths again two weeks later at another festival in Montreal, but things stay tense. Kanan rose to fame with socially-aware hip-hop, snagging a Grammy for his track, refugee and global fame from Wave and Flag as the 2010. World Cup Anthem. He later shifted to filmmaking, earning praise for work on social issues before these charges surfaced. She didn't file her complaint with police until May 2022, more than a decade later.

1:02Earlier this week, she shared emails from Kanan years after, where he reached out casually, but she pushed back firmly. The trial should wrap in four or five days, with cross-examination of the accuser set for Wednesday morning. A conviction could mean up to 10 years in prison, as the case unfolds.