Judge hears final arguments at Gilbert Rozon's rape trial. A Canadian theatrical producer accused of rape and indecent assault dating from 1980 has been acquitted. His trial befell in entrance of a … VideoWhen driving a tuk-tuk pays more than making art, The defiant 'nail houses' refusing to sell up, Why the Swedes love doing something Americans hate. Gilbert Rozon, who founded the Just for Laughs comedy festival, had always maintained his innocence. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Gilbert Rozon: Just For Laughs producer acquitted of rape charges, Report Despite finding the testimony of the woman who accused Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon of raping her four decades ago to be credible, a Quebec Court judge acquitted Rozon … Rozon testified that it was Charette who had initiated the encounter. "The encouraging winds of change that are being felt in our society are unfortunately not yet reflected in a victim's journey through the justice system," Charette said in her statement. when he was 25 years outdated. when he was 25 years old. Still, she said she wanted to encourage victims to come forward in the hopes that the system will change as they do. Gilbert Rozon, Producer: Just for Laughs: All-Access. MONTREAL — Former entertainment mogul Gilbert Rozon, founder of the Just for Laughs festival, has been found not guilty on charges of rape and indecent assault. Rozon left the Montreal courthouse without commenting. The accusations against Rozon stemmed from a night in 1980 in St-Sauveur, Que., when he was 25 years old. Gilbert Rozon, who founded the Just for Laughs comedy festival, had always maintained his innocence. Can onboard rollercoasters save the cruise industry? Mr Rozon, 66, is famous in both his home country of Canada and abroad. VideoBattling the pangolin traffickers, When driving a tuk-tuk pays more than making art. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Rozon's charges reflect those that were on the books in 1980; "rape" has since been replaced by sexual assault in the current version of the Criminal Code. 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We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Rozon had been charged in connection with events alleged to have taken place in 1980. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. BBC News - A Canadian theatrical producer accused of rape and indecent assault dating from 1980 has been acquitted. None of the claims have been proven in court. Gilbert Rozon, 65, is charged with rape and indecent assault for acts allegedly committed in 1980 The judge in Montreal said her ruling did … She said he invited her out to a club after work. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. During the trial, several woman stood outside the courtroom in protest, wearing masks bearing the hashtag #MeToo, in reference to the international movement to denounce sexual assault. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. "The guilt you feel is not yours.". He showed her to a room where she could sleep. Charette spoke with reporters at the Montreal courthouse following the verdict. The founder of Just for Laughs comedy festival, Gilbert Rozon, has been acquitted of charges of rape and indecent assault. His trial took place in front of a judge alone, back in October. A Canadian theatrical producer accused of rape and indecent assault dating from 1980 has been acquitted. Gilbert Rozon, 66, was charged in December 2018 in relation to acts allegedly committed in 1980 in Saint-Sauveur, Que. Charette spoke to reporters after the ruling, saying she was deeply disappointed. Gilbert Rozon, who founded the Just for Laughs comedy festival, had always maintained his innocence. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. But allegations of sexual misconduct have swirled around him for more than a decade. She said she didn't remember all the details of what followed, but she said she recalls looking out a window to the right of the bed while it happened. But Hébert also noted that on many points Rozon's testimony was consistent. Gilbert Rozon (born October 26, 1954) is a Canadian impresario and founder of the Just for Laughs (French: Juste pour Rire) comedy festival, which he created on July 14, 1983.He is also responsible for the development and international deployment of the Just for … .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. Charette said the next thing she remembered was waking up with Rozon on top of her, "determined.". He denied the charges and said Ms Charette had initiated the encounter. A Canadian theatrical producer accused of rape and indecent assault dating from 1980 has been acquitted. The wording of the charges was based on what was in the Criminal Code at the time. The trial heard that Rozon, then 25, invited Charette, then 20, to spend an evening with him at a discotheque in Quebec's Laurentian region. The wording of the charges was based on what was in the Criminal Code at the time. Her name is Annick Charette, 60. when he was 25 years old. Gilbert Rozon, the founder of Canadian comedy festival Just For Laughs, has been charged with rape and indecent assault. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Gilbert Rozon, 66, was charged in December 2018 in relation to acts allegedly committed in 1980 in Saint-Sauveur, Que. While reading her ruling Tuesday, Hébert said she found Charette's testimony clear and that the defence offered no proof her testimony could have been influenced by others. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Quebec Court Judge Mélanie Hébert lifted the publication ban on the woman's identity, at her request. "Do not be ashamed," Charette said. The alleged incidents took place in 1980. The founder of the world-famous Just for Laughs comedy festival has been acquitted of charges of rape and indecent assault in a Montreal court. The accusations against Rozon stemmed from a night in 1980 in St-Sauveur, Que., when he was 25 years old. Gilbert Rozon is accused of rape and indecent assault for acts allegedly committed in Saint-Sauveur between June 1 and Sept. 21, 1980 A woman told the trial that the entertainment mogul had raped her in the ski-resort town north of Montreal. In her 30-page ruling, Judge Mélanie Hébert said Ms Charette's testimony had been credible, but added that the verdict showed "that there remains, in the mind of the court, a reasonable doubt about the guilt of Mr Rozon, because the prosecution has not discharged its burden". Gilbert Rozon, 66, was charged in December 2018 in relation to acts allegedly dedicated in 1980 in Saint-Sauveur, Que. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. "To all the victims, I would like to tell you this: 'Do not be ashamed,'" Ms Charette said after the decision was announced. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}A Canadian theatrical producer accused of rape and indecent assault dating from 1980 has been acquitted. The complainant said the decision marked a "sombre day". He pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in 1998, which resulted in an absolute discharge. © 2021 BBC. Gilbert Rozon is a producer and actor, known for Just for Laughs: All-Access (2012), Funny as Hell (2011) and Bullet in the Face (2012). Gilbert Rozon picturedin 2016. Video, When driving a tuk-tuk pays more than making art, 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots, Indonesia Boeing 737 passenger plane crash site found, navy says, Pakistan power cut plunges country into darkness, Pompeo: US to lift restrictions on contacts with Taiwan, Parler: Amazon to remove site from web hosting service, The 65 days that led to chaos at the Capitol, Singapore: Why these defiant 'nail house' owners refuse to sell, Nasa's Curiosity rover: 3,000 days on Mars, Storm Filomena: Spain sees 'exceptional' snowfall, Viewpoint: What the Capitol riot means for US foreign policy, Howie Mandel buys Just for Laughs festival. Gilbert Rozon net worth: Gilbert Rozon is a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $10 million.He is best known for founding … Indonesia plane crash site located, navy says, What the Capitol riot means for US foreign policy, Coronavirus: A year of high-speed discovery, .css-q4by3k-IconContainer{display:none;height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-right:0.25em;}Battling the pangolin traffickers. Rozon, 66, was charged … Gilbert Rozon, who founded the Just for … Tuesday's testimony in Gilbert Rozon's rape trial with the Crown prosecutor Bruno Ménard asking the complainant to identity her assailant. She said both Rozon and Charette's testimonies were credible, but that the prosecution was unable to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He founded the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal in 1983 and expanded the brand to include television shows and specials. Rozon, 66, was charged in December 2018 in relation to acts allegedly committed in 1980 in Saint-Sauveur, Que. 16.4k Followers, 350 Following, 479 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Gilbert Rozon (@gilbertrozon) The case centred on events in 1980, when Annick Charette - then aged 20 - accused Mr Rozon of raping her at a ski resort outside Montreal. The Crown prosecutor's office evaluated 14 complaints against Rozon dating back to roughly the same period, but only moved forward with two. "This system sets high expectation for how the victim performs throughout the process, and especially through their first testimony … While I am grateful for the investigators and prosecutors who have accompanied me throughout this crusade, this process has been like a storm, reviving the trauma I experienced and a strong sense of powerlessness.". Comments are welcome while open. In a split decision, Quebec's Court of Appeal has thrown out a lower court ruling authorizing a $10 million class-action lawsuit brought against entertainment impresario Gilbert Rozon. MONTREAL — Former entertainment mogul Gilbert Rozon, founder of the Just for Laughs festival, has been found not guilty on charges of rape and indecent assault. The wording of the charges was based on what was in the Criminal Code at the time. ... Rozon, 65, is charged with rape and indecent assault for acts allegedly committed in 1980 in St-Sauveur when he was 25 years old. She said the decision proved the justice system is flawed when it comes to sexual assault cases. Former entertainment mogul Gilbert Rozon, founder of the Just for Laughs festival, has been found not guilty on charges of rape and indecent assault. Just for Laughs comedy festival sold to Howie Mandel, When driving a tuk-tuk pays more than making art. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Read about our approach to external linking. The judge also praised the courage of the complainant, who waived her right to anonymity on Tuesday. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Just for Laughs comedy festival sold to Howie Mandel, Canada producer leaves TV amid flurry of sexual abuse allegations, 'QAnon Shaman' charged over pro-Trump riots. The accusations against Rozon stemmed from a night in 1980 in St-Sauveur, Que., when he was 25 years old. Rozon had been charged in connection with events alleged to have taken place in 1980. The judge in Montreal said her ruling did not mean that no crime had taken place, but rather that the prosecution had not been able to prove Mr Rozon's guilt beyond all reasonable doubt. Charette told the court she met Rozon in 1980 — three years before he launched his comedy festival — when he came to the radio station where she worked to record publicity spots. He also appeared as a judge on the French version of America's Got Talent. Afterward, Rozon said he was tired and refused to drive her home, she said. The accusations against Rozon stemmed from a night in 1980 in St-Sauveur, Que., when he was 25 years old. Mr Rozon stepped back from several television productions in 2017 after a Montreal newspaper published allegations of sexual abuse and harassment from nine women spanning three decades. This is an option open to judges in Canada which means the guilty individual is immediately discharged with no conditions and no punishment is imposed. The wording of the charges was based on what was in the Criminal Code at the time. Jake Angeli, real name Jacob Anthony Chansley, is accused of violent entry and disorderly conduct. Gilbert Rozon, who … when he was 25 years old. Gilbert Rozon picturedin 2016. The founder of Just for Laughs comedy festival, Gilbert Rozon, has been acquitted of charges of rape and indecent assault.