Peter Nygard used power, status to sexually assault women in office bedroom suite, court told

WARNING: This article contains descriptionsof sexual abuse.

Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard used his "power and status" to lure and sexually assault five women in the private bedroom suite of his downtown Toronto headquarters from the late 1980s to 2005, a Toronto court heard Tuesday morning, as opening arguments got underway.

Crown attorney Ana Serban gave a brief but detailed synopsis of each of the attacks Nygard, now 82, is alleged to have committed against the women, who ranged in age from 16 to 28 at the time.

Nygard pleaded not guilty last week in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice tofive counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement.

Serbanopened with a description of Nygard at the time of the alleged attacks as someone with a fashion empire, wealth, status, power and influence, includingowning a private jet and property all over the world.

It was Nygard'spower and status,Serban told court, that he used to "lure and sexually assault young women."

Nygardestablisheda similar pattern of sexual assault, court was told.He had met thesewomen previously, and that initial meeting would later lead towhat Serban described as "the tour" of his Toronto headquarters, located at 1 Niagara Street.

Eventually the tourwould end in Nygard's private bedroomsuite, whichincluded a bed, televisions and a Jacuzzi, as well as doors withouthandles and locks controlled by Nygard, the Crown alleged.

It was here that Nygardwould attack the women,pinning them to the bed, where they would struggle against him but ultimately be overpowered, the Crown said. Court was told thattwo of the women asked or begged Nygard to put a condom on before the alleged sexual assault.

One woman went to a Rolling Stones concert with Nygard and afterward ended up at his private bedroom suite, court heard.There, he locked the doorand asked her to make him a sandwich.

After she obliged, Nygardscreamed at and berated the woman for being a tease andnot going along with his advances, court heard. When she said she wanted to leave, hepinned her tothe bed, but after struggling, then realizing there was nothing she could do, she told him to"at least put a f--king condom on," court heard.

After the alleged assault, Nygardthrew a $100 bill her way, court heard.

In at least two ofthe alleged attacks, otherswere also present, the Crown said.In the caseof the 16-year-old, court heard that another womanjoined in the alleged assault.Afterward, the woman gave the teensomepillsand called her the next day to tell her to take them all, court was told;they were later determined to be morning-after emergency contraceptivepills.

All five complainants are expected to testify during the approximately seven-week trial.

On Tuesday, Nygard was brought into the courtroom wearing a black suit and white shirt, with no tie, and black-rimmed glasses,his long white hair tied back into a bun.

Nygard was helped by a court security guard into his seat at the defence table, where he took a seat beside his lawyers. Aprior agreement outlined he would beallowed to sit with his defence teamand have access to a pen.

Nygard stood, showing no emotion, as the charges against him were read to the jury.

WATCH | Nygard couldbe extradited to U.S. to face charges there:

Peter Nygard used power, status to sexually assault women, court told

1 year ago

Duration 2:02

Arguments have begun in Peter Nygard's Toronto trial. The former Canadian fashion mogul is accused of using his power and status to lure and sexually assault five women in a private bedroom suite in his downtown Toronto headquarters from 1988 to 2005.

Following the Crown's opening statement, court heard from two witnesses, including aformer contractor of Nygard'swho gave details of the building at 1 Niagara Street,including the floor on whichNygard's private bedroom suite was located.

David Gauthiertestified about a door of the suite with an electromagnetic lock that, if exiting the door from inside,could only be unlockedfrom a panel on a table near Nygard's bed.

Nygard also faces sex-related charges in Manitobaand Quebec, and is set to be extradited to the U.S. to facesex-related charges thereonce his criminal casesin Canada are completed.

He founded the now-defunct Nygard International in Winnipeg in 1967, but stepped down as chairman of the clothing company in February 2020 before it filed for bankruptcy.