One of the women accusing former fashion mogul Peter Nygard of sexual assault testified at his trial in Toronto, expressing her fear in coming forward for years following the alleged attack. Nygard, the founder of a now-defunct international women’s clothing company, is facing five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in alleged incidents spanning from the 1980s to the mid-2000s. The first claimant, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, recounted meeting Nygard at a Rolling Stones concert in Toronto in the late 1980s. She alleges that she was led back to the top-floor bedroom at Nygard’s company headquarters, where she claims she was trapped and assaulted.
During her testimony, the accuser revealed that she chose not to come forward immediately due to feelings of shame and fear that she wouldn’t be believed. She also expressed concerns about the potential impact on her acting career. It was only years later, after reading a magazine article about Nygard, that she decided to confide in a friend and subsequently report the incident to the police.
Nygard has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
