Twist in the legal community: Radio-Canada has learned that renowned lawyer Brian Greenspan will file a motion to withdraw Peter Nygard's case in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Wednesday morning, while the sentencing hearing to determine the guilty verdict has not yet taken place.
The disgraced Canadian fashion mogul was found guilty of raping four women in November after his first criminal trial in Canada.
His lawyer, Brian Greenspan, told a Manitoba court last Friday that he would not represent his client in his second criminal sexual assault trial.
According to court documents cited by the Winnipeg Free Press, Mr. Greenspan withdrew from the criminal trial of Peter Nygard, telling the judge he could no longer represent his client for ethical reasons.
The Toronto lawyer told the Manitoba judge it was the first time in his 50-year career he had asked to recuse himself from a case.
There had been an irreconcilable breakdown in the lawyer-client relationship, he said.
But in another twist, Radio-Canada learned Tuesday night that Mr. Greenspan would be making the same request regarding the first criminal case in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice tomorrow morning.
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Peter Nygard arrives in a police van in Toronto court on October 3 for the start of his trial.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Cole Burston
Peter Nygard was scheduled to return to court on Wednesday to find out the date of his sentencing hearing.
But Mr. Greenspan will instead make the same application he made in Manitoba, according to a judicial source familiar with the matter. His application will be discussed with the Crown.
Peter Nygard was charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment in Manitoba in July for alleged acts that occurred in November 1993 at his former company's headquarters in Winnipeg.
In contrast to the Manitoba case, the Ontario case is more problematic because it is rare for a lawyer to withdraw from a case shortly before the adjudication hearing begins.
Peter Nygard faces a maximum of ten years in prison in Ontario for the rape of the four women, which took place from 1986 to 2005 in his former fashion workshop in Toronto.