By Erika Morris, The Canadian Press
Peter Nygard arrives in a police vehicle to a courthouse in Toronto on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston)
A Court of Quebec judge in Montreal has found fashion mogul Peter Nygard guilty of sexual assault and forcible confinement.
The 84-year-old, who founded the now-defunct women’s apparel company Nygard International, accepted a plea deal and did not present any evidence in his defence Monday. He appeared via video call from an Ontario prison.
The Quebec case is separate from Nygard’s conviction in Toronto, where he was found guilty in 2023 of four counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Quebec Crown prosecutor Jérôme Laflamme said Nygard’s plea was unexpected and he was prepared for a 10-day trial before a judge only.
“Mr. Nygard’s change of heart was quite sudden,” Laflamme told reporters at the courthouse after the hearing.
“The plaintiff is present in the courthouse. She’s been prepared to testify … and I can’t wait to go meet her and explain her the situation.”
Evidence presented by the Crown, which the defence did not contest, showed Nygard took advantage of his position as a renowned fashion designer to lure young women.
It says the victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, met Nygard in a bar when she was 18 years old. She wanted to be a fashion model.
They met for lunch at her workplace to discuss her career and he invited her to his Montreal penthouse, saying he had forgotten his keys. Once in the penthouse, he locked her in the bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
According to the court documents, Nygard told the victim she could move to the Bahamas and promised her a life of luxury under the condition that she would have sex with him and other women.
The events took place between November 1997 and November 1998.
Quebec prosecutors charged Nygard in 2022 with one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement.
Court of Quebec Judge Nathalie Fafard accepted to include the previous guilty verdict out of Toronto in the evidence as “it would defy coincidence or any other innocent explanation for both events having happened.”
Gerri Wiebe, Nygard’s lawyer, said her client invited the judge to find him guilty ahead of his pending extradition to the United States to face racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Fafard agreed to delay sentencing until Nygard undergoes a medical assessment.
Wiebe said the United States can only extradite Nygard once his legal matters in Canada are settled. She added that by postponing the sentence, it’s ensured that Nygard can remain in the country.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged the charges involved at least dozens of victims in the United States, the Bahamas and Canada.
U.S. authorities alleged that over a 25-year period, Nygard used his fashion company’s influence, employees and funds to recruit and use women and girls for his sexual gratification and that of friends and business associates.
“Moving him to the United States at this point in time would have a detrimental effect on his health,” Wiebe said.
She said Nygard is feeble and fears he wouldn’t survive extradition.
Lawyers will be back in court on Oct. 2 to present a joint recommendation for sentencing.
