Ontario’s highest court has rejected an appeal by former fashion tycoon Peter Nygard, affirming his sexual assault convictions and prison term. Nygard, aged 84, was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault in 2023 and handed an 11-year sentence, translating to approximately seven years in incarceration after accounting for time served in custody pre-trial.
The accusations against Nygard spanned from the 1980s to the mid-2000s, with multiple women, including a 16-year-old at the time of the incidents, alleging that he sexually assaulted them at his company’s Toronto headquarters. Nygard’s appeal contended that his sentence was too severe and cited legal errors by the trial judge, such as allowing expert testimony on trauma effects.
His legal team referenced the case of former Hedley lead singer Jacob Hoggard, whose appeal also challenged the same expert’s testimony in a 2022 sexual assault conviction. Despite concerns, Hoggard’s conviction stood as the Appeal Court found no miscarriage of justice. Nygard’s lawyers argued that the jury instructions on using psychologist Lori Haskell’s evidence were inadequate and that his health warranted a lighter sentence.
The Crown defended Haskell’s testimony as a non-prejudicial error, with the Appeal Court concurring that the trial judge’s guidance was sufficient and akin to the Hoggard case. The panel dismissed any significant trial judge mistakes, affirming Nygard’s sentence as appropriate considering the gravity of the crimes.
Apart from his legal challenges in Ontario, Nygard faces legal battles elsewhere. The founder of a defunct women’s apparel brand, Nygard resigned as chairman following a U.S. office raid six years ago. Legal proceedings in Manitoba were halted last year due to mishandling of evidence, prompting a fresh investigation in Saskatchewan, leading to Nygard’s apprehension.
Nygard’s legal team has initiated a defamation lawsuit against provincial authorities and law enforcement, though these claims are pending court examination. Furthermore, Nygard is confronting sexual offense charges in Quebec and potential extradition to the U.S. for sex trafficking and racketeering allegations, all of which he has denied vehemently.