Ghomeshi arrested, charged with sexual assault

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TORONTO (NEWS1130) – A court hearing is underway in the case of former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who is facing four counts of sexual assault.

Ghomeshi — wearing a white dress shirt with no tie and a dark blazer — is following the proceedings from the prisoner’s box.

In addition to the sexual assault charges, he also faces one count of what police called “overcome resistance – choking.”

The former “Q” radio host was fired by CBC on Oct. 26 after the public broadcaster said it had seen “graphic evidence” that he had physically injured a woman.

His lawyer Marie Henein wasn’t immediately available for comment.

The head of CBC media relations, Chuck Thompson, said, “We don’t comment on police matters, criminal investigations or anything before the courts.”

The arrest comes a day after the former Q host dropped a $55-million lawsuit against the CBC, alleging defamation and breach of confidence in his statement of claim.

Since his dismissal, nine women have come forward with allegations that Ghomeshi sexually or physically assaulted them — three of them filed police complaints.

Ghomeshi has admitted that he engaged in “rough sex” but insisted his encounters with women were consensual.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

News1130’s affiliate in Toronto, CityNews, has reached out to two of his alleged victims, author and lawyer Reva Seth and former Trailer Park Boys actress Lucy DeCoutere. Neither was immediately available for comment.

Ghomeshi, 47, admitted in a lengthy Facebook post published on Oct. 26, the day he was fired, that he engaged in “rough sex,” but insisted his encounters with women were consensual.

In a follow-up post a few days later, he said he would meet the flurry of allegations against him “directly,” but has not made any public statements since. The Facebook posts have since been deleted.

With files from The Canadian Press

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