Jian Ghomeshi found not guilty

[projekktor id=’23542′]

The verdict is in in the Jian Ghomeshi case and a lot of people are unhappy. But not Ghomeshi who walked out of court a free man today, as all charges against him were dismissed and while all was calm inside the court as the judge read his verdict, it was a much different story outside.

When the final verdict was read out Jian Ghomeshi rock back and forth in his courtroom chair, for the first time in this trial he hugged all his family members and he’ll have many more opportunities to do so as all five of the charges against him were dismissed.

Justice William Horkins explained that given the lack of physical evidence his decision was dependant on each of the three women to be sincere, honest and accurate, qualities he just couldn’t detect. Horkins’ said,
“each complainant was revealed at trial to be lacking in these important attributes. The evidence of each complainant suffered not just from inconsistencies and questionable behaviour, but was tainted by outright deception.”

Horkins went as far as to say that the final woman was ‘playing chicken with the justice system’ saying that, “she was prepared to tell half the truth for as long as she thought she might get away with it.”

Ghomeshi’s scandal isn’t over just yet, he’ll be back in a courthouse for another sexual assault trial, involving a former CBC employee, that’s set to start in June.

[projekktor id=’23543′]

Criminal defence lawyer Jeff Manishen has been following the case closely and joined Nick Dixon to give us a better understanding of the ruling.