Jian Ghomeshi trial- Day 2

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It was a dramatic day two of the Jian Ghomeshi trial. His lawyer, Marie Henein continued her cross examination of the first woman to accuse the former CBC host of sexual assault dating back to 2002. Henein focused on inconsistencies in her story, and later revealed two emails that sent shockwaves through the courtroom.

The woman accusing Ghomeshi of sexual assault said nerves factored into inconsistencies between her police statement and court testimony. The woman, who can’t be identified due to a publication ban told police that her head hit the car seat during the first alleged assault by Ghomeshi but told the court that her head was smashed against a window. She also told police that she never contacted the former CBC host again after a second alleged attack, that’s when defense lawyer Marie Henein pounced.

The witness said on multiple occassions while speaking with police that seeing Ghomeshi on television or hearing his voice on radio forced her to turn off those devices because they re-traumatized her. Then Henein released two emails that the witness sent to Ghomeshi about a year after the alleged assault. One of them sent in January 2004 was quite friendly and borderline flirty. The second was sent 6 months later and contained a picture of the witness in a bikini on a beach. The witness said it was there as bait to get Ghomeshi to get in touch with her to explain why he allegedly hit her a year before.

The woman released a statement which was read by her lawyer, saying:
“This experience to come to court to testify and give evidence and to face Mr. Ghomeshi was extraordinarily difficult in light of what had happened to me. I always understood that this process would be difficult and I remain satisfied that I chose to come forward.”

The witness then encourages abused women to follow her lead and to seek help. The second woman in the trial is set to take the stand Thursday morning.