Stronach Trial: Police Negligence in Spotlight

0:00It's April 9th. You're listening to Vancouver News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. The sexual assault trial against Otto Parts billionaire Frank Strannock has wrapped up its arguments in Toronto after two months, and now Judge Mary. Maloy holds the fate of the remaining five charges from three women. Earlier this week, defense lawyer Leora Schamesh, hammered home claims that police held prep meetings with all seven original accusers just days before. The trial, where new details popped up that weren't properly recorded, potentially coaching their stories and robbing Strannock of a fair shot at. Cross-examining them. This case echoes the GN Gomeshi acquittal back in 2016, which kicked off Canada's Me Too Wave. Many of these women came forward after, hearing about that, but the defense argues police tunneled in on guilt, flipping the presumption of innocence. Charges have shrunk dramatically from 12 involving seven women. Some dropped mid-trial after witnesses cracked or melted down emotionally, others.

1:04Ditched by prosecutors or the judge herself for weak evidence, Schamesh dialed back from seeking a full stay of proceedings, now just urging the judge to factor in that police negligence when judging the remaining. Accuser's credibility, with court reconvening June 19th for a verdict or update. Meanwhile, Strannock faces fresh similar charges up in York, region that could play out the same way.