'It's very hard to understand how trauma works': Manz's alleged victims recount difficult memories

The trial of 49-year-old Ruben Manz recommenced on Tuesday morning, with the cross examination of the fourth witness. She was another former patient of the chiropractor who alleges that she was sexually assaulted during what Manz claimed to be a neck stretch in 2016.

The trial of 49-year-old Ruben Manz recommenced on Tuesday morning, with the cross examination of the fourth witness. She was another former patient of the chiropractor who alleges that she was sexually assaulted during what Manz claimed to be a neck stretch in 2016.

The defence frequently questioned the witness's memory of her appointments with the chiropractor.

This particular witness returned to Manz on several occasions, testifying that she experienced Manz touching her breasts during treatment "five or six times" but returned to the chiropractor because she trusted that she was receiving legitimate medical treatment.

As the defence continued to question the witness's memory, she expressed that while she couldn't pinpoint exact details of each appointment, she vividly remembers the moments when she felt uncomfortable.

Throughout the defence's cross examination, the witness was questioned heavily regarding why she returned to the chiropractor and waited so long to report the encounter.

The witness cited that she did not understand what had happened to her until she saw news of Manz's 2021 arrest which prompted what she described as an "overwhelming sense of clarity."

"It felt like it unearthed just the reality of what had happened. Because before that, I had only heard positive things [about Manz]. I think that what had prevented me from really understanding what had happened to me, was that I was wanting to trust his professionalism,” she testified.