The Toronto sexual assault trial of billionaire businessman Frank Stronach faced another twist Thursday even before it began, as his lawyer signalled her intention to seek a stay of proceedings over concerns that some of his accusers may have been coached by prosecutors.
Leora Shemesh told the court concerns regarding abuse of process arose after the defence received a batch of disclosure “at the 11th hour” that included new statements from all of the complainants and notes from an officer who observed some of the witness preparation meetings.
The fact that every complainant came up with new evidence during those meetings — despite having had no such revelations since 2024 — was not just a coincidence and may have something to do with how the meetings were conducted, she argued.
“There is an available inference that a witness may have been coached,” she said.
Stronach’s trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday but his lawyer asked for more time to prepare after receiving what she described as a large volume of new materials that includes several videotaped statements.
The defence raised the issue of the witness preparation meetings as the case reconvened for an update Thursday. The trial is now scheduled to begin on Feb. 12.
The 93-year-old tycoon, who became one of Canada’s wealthiest people as the founder of the auto parts manufacturer Magna International, is facing 12 charges related to seven complainants.
The charges stem from alleged incidents that took place between the 1970s and 1990s. Stronach pleaded not guilty to all counts in a hearing last year.
The officer who chronicled some of the witness preparation meetings took the stand Thursday as the defence sought more evidence for the stay application, which would be heard at the end of the trial.
The defence questioned Peel regional police Sgt. Gabe Di Nardo on his recollection of three meetings that took place in January, his understanding of those conversations and his reasons for documenting certain elements and not others.
Crown prosecutors had objected to the questioning, arguing it would be an “extreme error” to do it at this time and that there is no basis for allegations of abuse of process or Crown misconduct.
“A lack of clarity in a note is not abuse of process,” prosecutor David Tice argued.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy, who is presiding over the case, found the defence “should be allowed to explore that issue” by examining the officer.
Stronach, who has denied all allegations, was charged with 18 offences related to 13 complainants in 2024, but the case was eventually split in two.
A separate trial on the remaining allegations is scheduled later this year in Newmarket, Ont.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2026.
By Paola Loriggio