Horkins: Beyond a reasonable doubt is not an imaginary or frivilous doubt, must not be based on sympathy or prejudice
— Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
Horkins: Even is you believe the accused is probably guilty, that's not sufficient.
— Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
Protected from a crush of media by court security, Jian Ghomeshi's sister Jila read a statement from a piece of paper, saying they were "relieved but not surprised" by the court's decision."It can only be surprising to those who rushed to judgement before the trial even started and before a single word of evidence had been heard. While many people have analyzed this trial and the events leading up to it in symbolic terms, what we want to say today is deeply personal," she said.Horkins: They said they wanted to 'sink the prick' because 'he's a fucking piece of shit'
— Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
Horkins says he must consider the 'false' presumption that sexual assault complainants are in fact always truthful — Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
Ghomeshi faced upwards of a life sentence in prison for the choking charge, and 18 months in jail for a summary conviction of sexual assault.As he had for much of the trial, Ghomeshi wore a dark blue suit and fiddled with his pen as he waited with his defense attorney Marie Henein for the judge to enter the courtroom. At times he leaned back in his chair, appearing relaxed.The trial saw moments of high tension, as one by one Crown prosecutors led the women through their testimony, and one by one Ghomeshi's defense attorney questioned their credibility and called them liars.The first witness, who couldn't be named due to a publication ban, testified that on one occasion in December 2002, Ghomeshi pulled her hair without her consent, and another time in January 2003, he hit her head with what she thought was a closed fist until her ears rang and she thought she would faint.H: It is impossible for the court to have faith in the complainants, leaves him with a reasonable doubt
— Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
The story and subsequent media attention provoked a national conversation about sexual assault and harassment. Following the intense scrutiny on Ghomeshi and the CBC, where some of the allegations took place, then-Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair asked victims to come forward to police. "We are quite prepared to conduct a criminal investigation should they come forward with complaints," he said.In November 2014, Ghomeshi was charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking. In January, three more charges of sexual assault followed, but last May the Crown dropped two sexual assault charges, admitting there was no prospect of conviction.Related: This Canadian Sex Assault Trial May Tackle the Question of Where BDSM Turns Into Assault
'Give someone $100 bucks, first person to kick him in the nuts,' observer says as he leaves the courthouse — Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
Jian's sister Jila makes statement that his family is not anti-women, and they ask for privacy at this time — Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016
Ghomeshi chose a judge-only trial over being tried by a jury of his peers. He did not take the stand as the Canadian criminal justice system does not compel a defendant to do so.Chants of 'we believe survivors' heard from crowd outside courthouse. Outside doors: — Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont)March 24, 2016