The civil trial of Gilbert Rozon was almost postponed on Monday, his lawyers arguing that the new provisions of the Civil Code, adopted on December 4, which provide in particular for a “presumption of irrelevance of evidence based on myths and prejudices » in matters of sexual violence, were detrimental to their client.
Posted at 11:49 a.m.
Updated at 1:32 p.m.
Me Lebrun, who represents the founder of Just for Laughs, Gilbert Rozon, argued that the adoption of the new provision of the Civil Code “infringes the substantial rights” of his client, and that it “gags and ties up the defense “.
Bill 73, led by the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, is inspired by similar provisions already existing in the Criminal Code. “The justice system must never be a burden for victims. It must be a tool. In this type of case, it’s a race against time,” Minister Jolin-Barrette said last week.
Mr. Rozon’s lawyer requested that the trial be postponed for at least two weeks so that Judge Tremblay could look into the matter; he even expressed his intention to debate the constitutionality of the provision.
But after hearing the arguments of the defendants and the Attorney General, Judge Chantal Tremblay considered that Mr. Rozon’s late request was unjustified. The objections of Mr. Rozon’s lawyers could, however, be heard during the trial, she concluded.
Four years after being acquitted of the charges of rape and indecent assault brought against him by Annick Charette, Gilbert Rozon is once again facing justice. He will have to defend against nine individual civil lawsuits for accusations of sexual assault and rape.
Gilbert Rozon arrived discreetly at the Montreal courthouse, avoiding the journalists and photographers who were idling in front of the building on rue Saint-Antoine. Just before entering the courtroom, he said he was “serene” in the face of this supertrial which must begin with the testimony of director Lyne Charlebois.
Over the coming months, the nine women will take turns testifying in a single trial – a request made by Mr. Rozon. They will attempt to “prove similar facts” or a way of working on the part of Gilbert Rozon for actions taken over the last 40 years.
In total, 43 days of hearings have been planned, which should take us to March 2025. Gilbert Rozon will testify only once following the testimony of the nine women, who are claiming nearly 14 million.
Besides Lyne Charlebois, the other women who accuse Mr. Rozon are: Annick Charette, Patricia Tulasne, Anne-Marie Charette, Sophie Moreau, Danie Frenette, Guylaine Courcelles, Marylena Sicari and Martine Roy. All were present on Monday.
Opening Statements
In his opening statement, the lawyer for the nine women asked the judge: “Is it plausible that the nine plaintiffs, in addition to the other victims who will testify, all made this up?” » He spoke of the great courage of the nine women present, of the testimonies that the court will hear from the relatives of the alleged victims, who were their confidants from the start.
For its part, the defense indicated that Mr. Rozon was “falsely accused” of these sexual crimes. “He admits to having had three consensual relationships, but he denies everything else. » “We were looking for our Weinstein from Quebec,” said one of the lawyers of the founder of Just for Laughs, referring to the American producer convicted of numerous sexual assaults.
“The truth is, it’s hard to defend yourself when you’ve become an outcast,” she argued. We believe that the defendants were contaminated in their stories, this is what we will demonstrate.”
