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A woman who worked as Frank Stronach’s personal assistant decades ago is testifying at his sexual assault trial in Toronto.
Jennifer Jackson says she worked with the businessman at Magna International from 1977 to late 1981 or early 1982 and was “around him a lot” during that time.
As part of her job, Jackson says she outfitted the condo Stronach owned in a waterfront building. She says the unit was sparsely furnished because no one lived there full time.
The defence began presenting its case Monday, calling several witnesses, including the businessman’s former driver.
Glenn Anderson told the court he was on call to drive Stronach to work events, meetings and other engagements for roughly a decade in the 1980s.
He testified that Stronach wasn’t a “car guy” and didn’t own any European or sports cars — only Cadillacs.
The final of seven complainants testified last week that Stronach picked her up in a low-slung, two-door foreign car she believed was a Porsche.
Crown prosecutor Jelena Vlacic told court Monday that two more charges will be withdrawn in in the sexual assault trial of Frank Stronach, who now faces seven counts, down from the original 12. CBC’s Jamie Strashin explains what this means for the case.
Stronach, who became one of Canada’s wealthiest people as the founder of the auto parts conglomerate Magna International, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to alleged incidents dating as far back as the 1970s.
Since the trial began last month, prosecutors have cut down the number of counts on which they are proceeding, and said Monday they are now seeking convictions on seven charges related to four complainants.
