Former Fashion Mogul Peter Nygard on Trial for Sexual Assault and Confinement of Young Women
Disgraced former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is facing trial for allegations of sexual assault and confinement of young women at his custom-built Toronto headquarters. The Crown, in their opening address, claimed that Nygard used his power and influence to lure these women to his private bedroom suite, which could only be unlocked by him using a keypad. The trial involves five complainants, who will testify about their encounters with Nygard and the alleged sexual assaults.
According to Crown attorney Ana Serban, it took these women years to come forward with their experiences. Most of the complainants were in their 20s at the time of the incidents, with one woman being only 16 years old. The alleged offences stretch from the 1980s to 2005.
One woman will testify that she met Nygard on a flight to the Bahamas when she was in her 20s. Nygard, who had a large estate in the Bahamas, invited her to stay at his property, but she declined. Later, she recognized him on TV and contacted him, leading to a job interview at his Toronto headquarters. However, the interview took a traumatic turn when it ended in his top-floor bedroom suite. The woman will testify that Nygard tackled her onto the bed, pinned her down, and attempted to undress her. She managed to escape when the intercom announced his next appointment.
Another complainant will testify about meeting Nygard at a club when she was an aspiring fashion designer in her 20s. Their encounter in Toronto concluded in his private bedroom suite, where she alleges that he forced himself upon her.
A third complainant, an actress in her 20s, will testify that she met Nygard when boarding a flight from the Bahamas to Toronto. After giving her a tour of his headquarters, Nygard allegedly chased her around the room, stripped her clothes off, and sexually assaulted her.
The fourth complainant will testify about accepting a hostess job from Nygard for a midnight party at his headquarters. She alleges that the party escalated into group sex, but she felt uncomfortable throughout. She woke up naked on the bed with Nygard attempting to sexually assault her.
Furthermore, the trial includes a fifth complainant who claims to have attended a party at Nygard’s headquarters when she was only 16. She states that she felt disoriented after a drink and alleges that Nygard forced himself upon her while another woman present gave her emergency contraceptive pills.
The trial is expected to last seven weeks as each complainant presents their case against Peter Nygard. Nygard, now 82 years old, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. It remains a harrowing tale of abuse of power, and as the trial proceeds, the court will hear detailed accounts from these brave women who have come forward to seek justice.
