Jian Ghomeshi, former host of CBC Radio talk show Q, was found not guilty this morning of four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking.
Ghomeshi was fired from the CBC in October 2014 after a number of women came out publicly and accused the host of sexual assault, harassment, and groping. His dismissal prompted accusations of a cover-up and insensitive damage control at the CBC.
Ghomeshi was charged and appeared in court in November 2014. In his decision today, Ontario Court Justice William Horkins pointed to the credibility of his accusers and the prosecution's inability to overcome a presumption of innocence as reasons for the acquittal. He added: “...the twists and turns of the complainants’ evidence in this trial, illustrate the need to be vigilant in avoiding the equally dangerous false assumption that sexual assault complainants are always truthful.”
Ghomeshi faces a separate sexual assault trial in June.
The FADER has reached out to Ghomeshi's lawyer for comment.