Peter Nygard won't be charged in Winnipeg cases involving 8 women, police say
CBC
WARNING: This article and its videos contain graphic content that may be triggering for those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.
Disgraced clothing manufacturer Peter Nygard will not face charges in his hometown of Winnipeg, after a 10-month police investigation into allegations of sexual assault from eight women, The Fifth Estate has learned.
In addition, an investigation by The Fifth Estate reveals a pattern of Nygard avoiding prosecution following allegations of rape reported to Winnipeg police over several decades.
Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth said in a statement that their recent investigation involved working 15 files, interviewing 29 witnesses, including survivors, and compiling more than 1,600 documents.
In the end, eight cases were submitted to Manitoba's Justice Ministry for consideration. According to Smyth, prosecutors decided not to lay charges in all of the cases.
"It's like a slap in the face," said Nadine Moostoos, one of the women whose case was recently referred to Manitoba's Justice Ministry for criminal charges.
In 1993, she was 14 years old and living on the street when she said Nygard picked her up and sexually assaulted her.
"That just broke my heart, man," she said, referring to the decision not to press charges in her case. "It gave me no faith in the justice system."
WATCH | Nadine Moostoos describes what she told prosecutors when they declined her case:
Nygard, formerly the head of a multimillion-dollar clothing empire based in Winnipeg, is in custody in Toronto where he faces six charges of sexual assault and three counts of unlawful imprisonment.
Nygard also faces multiple charges of sex trafficking in New York City, where prosecutors said in an indictment that, with help from his company, he drugged and sexually assaulted "at least dozens of women and minor-aged female victims" over 25 years. There is an extradition proceeding underway in that case.
Outside one of the hearings, lawyer Brian Greenspan said, "Mr. Nygard denies any allegation of criminal conduct."
WATCH | Peter Nygard is escorted into a van outside Pearson airport:
In Winnipeg, however, he's never been prosecuted for a sex crime.
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