Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin says he never had physical contact with woman he's accused of assaulting
CBC
WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin said Tuesday that he is not guilty of sexual assault and never had any physical contact with a woman who made detailed allegations against him in court this week.
Speaking in French on the second day of his trial, Fortin told a Gatineau, Que., courtroom that he was shocked and devastated to learn of the allegations.
Fortin was the military officer in charge of the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine campaign. He was removed from the position in May 2021 and charged with one count of sexual assault three months later.
His defence lawyer, Isabel Schurman, has argued that the complainant incorrectly identified Fortin.
But during testimony in court Tuesday, the woman at the centre of Fortin's trial told court she is certain the high-profile military commander is the one who assaulted her in 1988.
The woman told court that while she can't recall whether her attacker spoke during the alleged assault, she is certain of his identity.
"I can assure you without a doubt that it was Dany Fortin standing over me masturbating himself with my hand," the complainant testified Tuesday.
"I looked at him. I knew that man. I spent 18 months with him being around day in and day out, and so there may be some slight variances, but there are no variances in that."
Schurman has argued there are inconsistencies between the woman's interviews with investigators and her testimony in court.
Fortin was charged in 2021 with one count of sexual assault tied to an incident alleged to have happened more than three decades ago when he was a cadet at the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.
The two-day criminal trial started Monday at the Gatineau courthouse in Quebec. Fortin wore his military uniform and his medals for the civilian court proceeding. His wife and daughter walked into the courthouse with Fortin and sat in the front row.
The court has issued a publication ban on any details that could identify the complainant.
The complainant testified that she woke up in her bed in barracks to find Fortin holding her hand on his genitals and using it to masturbate.
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