Toronto Councillor Michael Thompson has been acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from incidents involving two women during a Canada Day weekend getaway in Muskoka in 2022. After a lengthy trial that lasted over a year, Ontario Court Justice Phil Brissette ruled that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thompson left the Midland courthouse visibly relieved, embracing his lawyer, Leora Shemesh. She expressed that the process had been painful for Thompson but emphasized that the justice system ultimately functioned as it should.

In his 90-minute judgment, Justice Brissette stated that the evidence presented did not support the allegations against Thompson. The first woman accused him of inappropriately touching her while applying sunscreen, while the second claimed he attempted to engage in sexual activity with her despite her objections.

The judge noted that Thompson's testimony was at times difficult to believe, particularly regarding his claims of not wanting any sexual interactions during the weekend. However, he ultimately found that the second woman was too intoxicated to provide reliable testimony. Brissette remarked on her admitted memory loss and blackouts, which raised concerns about the credibility of her allegations.

Regarding the sunscreen incident, the judge acknowledged that while the complainant was a credible witness, her reliability was compromised due to her level of intoxication. He concluded that it was likely Thompson had asked to apply sunscreen but did not engage in any sexual misconduct.

Thompson, who has served as a councillor for Scarborough Centre for six terms, expressed his desire to move forward after what he described as a three-year nightmare. He suggested that there may have been a political motive behind the allegations.

As the trial concluded, Thompson's future remains uncertain, but he hopes to leave the controversy behind.