Five key facts about the Ghomeshi trial

The former CBC host’s file is the latest in a series of high-profile cases that have earned Marie Henein a reputation as a clever and tireless defence lawyer who leaves no stone unturned in preparing for trial, said Jonathan Rosenthal, a Toronto criminal lawyer.

Ghomeshi’s desfense attorney sought to discredit the alleged victim’s story in court today, attempting to suggest she lied to police by giving them “different versions” of the alleged assault.

The first witness at the sexual assault trial of a former Canadian Broadcast Corp. radio host testified Monday that he was charming before he suddenly went into a rage, pulling her hair and punching her, 13 years ago. The woman had also told police she was wearing hair extensions at the time of the alleged assault, which she now says she wasn’t.

Ghomeshi’s lawyer, Marie Henein, called in to question the accuracy of the woman’s testimony Monday, accusing the witness of creating a “false memory” and lying about the sequence of events.

Ghomeshi, 48, who lives in Toronto, has pleaded not guilty in court to four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking, all related to assaults that allegedly took place from 2002 to 2003. A fourth sexual assault charge is the subject of a separate criminal trial due to begin this summer.

“It was just easier, I thought, to carry on and try to put it behind me as a bad experience”, she said.

Under cross-examination, the woman denied she was unhappy that the popular host appeared to have lost interest in her after the initial encounter. “I’m feeling very safe…” He has said he had consensual “rough sex” with women. Henein said Ghomeshi didn’t own a VW Beetle at the time.

As well, the witness had also told police in an email that Ghomehi had smashed her head against the window of the vehicle. “I was surprised by how violent the allegations against him were”, stated Jim Hounslow, an employee of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and one of several of Ghomeshi’s accusers, told the Guardian.

She never saw him again after the second incident, she testified.

The first day of Ghomeshi’s trial drew enormous attention.

Ghomeshi will be tried by judge alone. She has yet to testify.

Lucy DeCoutere was one of the women who complained Ghomeshi had choked her and slapped her hard on the head.

Ghomeshi will also face trial for a sixth charge of overcoming resistance by choking.