Major-General Dany Fortin, who had been the main leader of the federal vaccination campaign against COVID-19, is now awaiting the judge’s verdict following his sexual assault trial on Tuesday at the Gatineau courthouse. .
In closing arguments, the Crown argued Tuesday morning that there was no reason to believe the plaintiff could be mistaken about the identity of her attacker, or that she could have forgotten him since 1988.
The prosecutor pointed out that Mr. Fortin, during his testimony on Monday, had been able to identify with certainty the names and faces of his former comrades from the military college of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu by examining the photos of the album of the graduates .
According to the Crown, the woman waited to press charges due to a “boys’ club” mentality within the military, and had retired when she finally reported her attacker in 2021.
The complainant, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, testified last month that she woke up one night in her dorm to find a man grabbed her hand to masturbate . She is absolutely certain that her attacker was Dany Fortin.
The defense attorney asked the judge on Monday for her client’s acquittal, saying the plaintiff’s testimony lacked credibility and that other witnesses were unable to support her version of events.
Judge Richard Meredith of the Court of Quebec is expected to deliver a verdict on December 5.
Major-General Fortin was the military officer in charge of the federal campaign to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to the provinces, until he was removed from his post in March 2021, when an investigation into allegations has been opened. He is also contesting this decision to withdraw his duties in Federal Court.