By Canadian Press

Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon found not guilty on rape charge

Dec 15, 2020 | 3:21 PM

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 accusations against Rozon stemmed from a night in 1980 in St-Sauveur, Que., when he was 25 years old. The wording of the charges was based on what was in the Criminal Code at the time.

The complainant, who was 20 at the time, testified that Rozon aggressively tried to have sex with her after a night out and that she woke up to find him on top of her and that he raped her.

Rozon, 66, denied any assault took place and testified that it was the woman who got into bed with him, and he woke up to her straddling him.

The trial before Quebec court Judge Melanie Hebert began in Montreal in October, with closing arguments presented in November.

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Both the defence and the prosecution argued that the other side’s version of the events lacked credibility.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2020.

The Canadian Press