Toronto Radio: Former CBC Host Beats Sexual Assault Charges

Former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi has been acquitted on four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking.

Judge William Horkins announced his ruling today in the Ontario Court of Justice. The decision follows an eight-day trial held in Toronto at the beginning of February.

In a decision that was scathing of the three complainants, Horkins repeatedly pointed to inconsistences in their stories that he said ultimately undermined their credibility and raised the issue of reasonable doubt.

Horkins says all he had to go on was the women's credibility, which he said cross-examination showed to be sorely lacking.

WATCH: Jian #Ghomeshi, Marie Henein depart courthouse following not guilty verdict https://t.co/zXmbRFxndh

— Global News Toronto (@globalnewsto) March 24, 2016

THE ACCUSED: Jian Ghomeshi, 48, was the former popular host of the CBC Radio program “Q” before he was fired in October 2014. Ghomeshi was born in England to Iranian parents and moved to the Toronto area as a child. While at CBC, he was regarded as a star media personality known for his dulcet tones and an interview style that drew out interesting nuggets of information from celebrity guests.

THE COMPLAINANTS: Three women, only one of whom can be named, are behind the charges brought against Ghomeshi. Lucy Decoutere, an actress known for her role on the TV show “The Trailer Park Boys,” chose to go public with her allegations that Ghomeshi choked her “to the point she could not breathe” and slapped her “hard three times on the side of her head.”

THE CHARGES: Four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance by choking. The alleged offences took place in Toronto between December 2002 and July 2003.

THE EARLY DEFENSE: Right as the allegations against him began to surface, however, Ghomeshi issued a lengthy Facebook post on the day he was fired from the CBC saying he had done nothing wrong. He said his employment was terminated because of the risk of his private sex life being made public “as a result of a campaign of false allegations pursued by a jilted ex girlfriend.” He said that while he engaged in “rough sex,” he only participated in sexual practices that were “mutually agreed upon, consensual, and exciting for both partners.”

WHAT'S NEXT?

Some image experts believe the 48-year-old Ghomeshi could possibly become a media star again.

The first thing Ghomeshi should do is start showing “a little bit of humility,” says one expert.

“Ghomeshi needs to demonstrate that he’s a human being, he’s sympathetic, that he understands that maybe there are two sides to every story and maybe the women who charged him, they have their side too,” says Martin Waxman, who conducts digital media training through Martin Waxman Communications.