Crown drops sex assault charge against billionaire Frank Stronach. Five charges remain for upcoming trial - Toronto Star

The withdrawal comes after the complainant signaled she does not wish to participate in the upcoming trial, scheduled for the spring.

Frank Stronach leaves the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto following sentencing hearings last month.

A woman who had accused Frank Stronach of sexual assault has told prosecutors she does not wish to take part in the Newmarket trial scheduled for next year, prompting the Crown to withdraw that charge on Wednesday.

“We have satisfied ourselves that she does not wish to participate in the trial and continuing with ... the count relating to her would not be in the public interest, accordingly, we’re withdrawing that count,” Crown attorney Jelena Vlacic said during a brief court appearance by Zoom.

Defence lawyer Leora Shemesh thanked Vlacic for “exercising her discretion.”

The woman initially alleged the billionaire sexually assaulted her in York Region in February 2024.

The withdrawal leaves Stronach facing five counts of sexual assault involving five complainants. The alleged incidents range from 1988 to 2023. A jury trial is set for next spring.

Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst noted Wednesday that the 94-year-old was not present during the virtual proceeding, as he appeared through his counsel by designation.

The billionaire is still waiting to be sentenced by Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy in Toronto after being found guilty of earlier this year indecent assault. The incident took place nearly 50 years ago in Toronto. Indecent assault is one in of a set of historical charges that have been replaced in the Criminal Code by modern sexual assault offences.

The Crown on Thursday asked Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy to impose a six-month jail sentence. Molloy is set to release her decision later