Jian Ghomeshi apologizes for 'sexually inappropriate' behaviour, Crown drops sex assault charge

JianGhomeshistood beforean open court today and apologized for his "sexually inappropriate" behaviour against a former CBC employee who had accused him of sexual assaulta charge that was thendropped by the Crown attorney.

His apology to Kathryn Borel and thepeace bond he signed meant there would be no second sexual assaulttrial, andended the legal ordeal the former CBC radio hosthasfaced since Toronto police laid sexual assaultcharges against himin 2014.

• Read Jian Ghomeshi's full apology to Kathryn Borel
• Read complainant Kathryn Borel's full statement

Ghomeshi never addressed Boreldirectly.Instead, he looked down mostly as he stood and readfrom a prepared statement in front ofOntario CourtJustice TimothyLipson.His comments, whichmarkedthe first time he has spoken publicly about any of the allegations against him,cameshortly after it was revealed to court that he had been seeing apsychotherapistfor the past 18 months 61 appointments to date.

No admission of guilt

Although Ghomeshi expressed regret for his actions, both his lawyer, Marie Henein, andLipson,made it clear that this was no admission of any criminal offence oradmission ofguilt. However, Lipson, when settingthe terms of the peace bond, saidBorel"hasreasonable grounds to fear that you will cause personal injury to her."

• LiveBlogRecap: Crown dropssexual assault charge
• CBC apologizes to Kathryn Borel over handling of Jian Ghomeshi complaint

Borel,a former associate producer on Ghomeshi's show Q, had accused himof grinding his pelvis into her rear at work in 2008 andhad asked the court to waive a publication ban that protectedheridentity. Borel, who sat in the courtroom as Ghomeshi read his statement,agreed with the Crown that they would drop the charge of sexual assault against himif he apologized andsigned a peace bond.

The peace bondstipulatesthat Ghomeshican have no direct or indirect contact with her, that he must pay $500, not possess any weapons and keep the peace.

Wearing a grey suit,Ghomeshitold the court, not as packed as it had been for his trial, that he would like to "apologize to Ms. Borel for hisbehaviourtowards her in theworkplace." He saidthat over the past 18 months, he has spent time reflecting on the incident and that he "had to come to terms with my own deep regret and embarrassment."

He said he did not always lead by example, did not show the respect to Borel thathe should have and "failed to understand and truly appreciate the impact" of his conduct on Borel'swork environment.

"Thatconduct in the workplace was sexuallyinappropriate.I realize thatthereis no way for me to know the full impact on herpersonallyand professionally," he said.

Crown attorney Michael Callaghan told court thatonFeb. 7, 2008, Boreland Ghomeshi were working late at the office. When Borel was bending over her desk, Ghomeshi came up behind her, held her waist and thrusthis pelvis back and forth into her buttocks, which lasted for several seconds, court heard.

Ghomeshi told the court that he had "crossed boundaries inappropriately" that the incident was "thoughtless"and "insensitive to her perspective" and that he now understands "how demeaning my conduct was to her."

He also apologized to his family specifically mentioninghis mother and sister who sat in the courtroom and whom he hugged after court proceedingsended.

In March,Ghomeshiwasacquitted by an Ontario Court judge on four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking, assaults alleged to have taken place against three women from 2002 to 2003. Ghomeshi's acquittal sparked protests and triggered outrage among many, including women's groups that felt the complainants were the ones put on trial.

• Jian Ghomeshi found not guilty on all assault charges
• Ghomeshitrial judge praised by lawyers for 'right decision'

In his ruling, Judge WilliamHorkinsscoldedthe three complainants for their "deceptive testimony," saying that there were serious deficiencies in their evidencethat significantlydamaged their credibility and reliability.

Thattrial, which began in Toronto on Feb. 1, 2016, lasted eight days.Ghomeshihadpleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Borel issues statement

Following the court proceedings,Borel spoke to the media from the courthouse steps, where about a dozen protesters had gathered earlier.She saidit was"unfortunate but maybe not surprising [Ghomeshi]chose not to say much about what exactly he was apologizing for."

She said thatover the course of a three-year period, "Ghomeshi made it clear to me that he could do what he wanted to me and my body" and that there are at least three documented incidents of physical touching.

Borel said when the defence offered up an apology, she was willing to forego the trial, as it seemed the "clearest path to the truth."

"A trial would have maintained his lie, the lie that he was not guilty and it would have further subjected me to the very same pattern of abuse that I am currently trying to stop," she said.

But Borel also slammed her former employer,accusing the CBC of ignoring her complaints.

"When I went to the CBC for help, what I received in return was a directive that, yes, he could do this and, yes, it was my job to let him. The relentless message to me from my celebrity boss and the national institution we worked for were that his whims were more important than my humanity or my dignity."

Chuck Thompson, a spokesman for the public broadcaster said what happened to Borel should never have occurred and that the CBC apologizes. He said thecorporation has taken steps, including providing training to recognize bullying and harassment in the workplace.