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Published Sep. 27, 2023, 2:27 p.m. ET
Canadian Fashion Designer Peter Nygard Accused of Sexual Assault and Forcible Confinement in Toronto Headquarters
In a shocking trial, Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard has been accused of using his wealth, assets, and status to lure women into his top-floor bedroom suite at his Toronto headquarters and sexually assault them. Prosecutors presented their case on Tuesday and revealed disturbing details of the alleged assaults.
According to prosecutors, Nygard manipulated the victims, including four women and one minor, into his bedroom suite under false pretenses, such as job interviews or tours. Once inside, he allegedly trapped and intoxicated them before sexually assaulting them. The bedroom suite featured doors without handles, controlled by Nygard through an automatic keypad lock.
Assistant Prosecution Attorney Ana Serban portrayed the suite as a place where Nygard unleashed his assault on the victims, stating, “Within these walls, behind all the trappings of success and power, there is a bedroom suite with a giant bed, a stone Jacuzzi, a bar, and doors — doors with no handle, doors with automatic, keypad-operated locks controlled by Peter Nygard.”
Nygard, 82, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement, with incidents dating back to the 1980s, ’90s, and mid-2000s. The alleged assaults involved women who were deceived into visiting his headquarters, believing they were there for professional reasons.
An account of one of the incidents was described in court, where a woman in her 20s was initially invited to Nygard’s estate in the Bahamas but declined. After recognizing him later, she called him, and he invited her to his Toronto headquarters for a job interview. However, the encounter took a terrifying turn as Nygard allegedly tackled her onto the bed, assaulted her, and even ripped her clothing. The assault only stopped when Nygard was informed that his next appointment had arrived.
Another victim recounted an incident where she was brought to Nygard’s bedroom suite after a Rolling Stones concert. She was asked to make him a sandwich, but when she refused to comply with his advances, Nygard allegedly screamed at her. Eventually, he pinned her to the bed and assaulted her.
The trial also revealed allegations of a 16-year-old girl being raped by Nygard in front of others and receiving emergency contraceptive pills from an unidentified woman. Additionally, one of Nygard’s alleged victims, April Telek, came forward with her story in June, stating that the designer raped her during a modeling job in 1993.
Police launched an investigation into Nygard in June 2020, leading to the submission of eight cases to Manitoba prosecutors. However, criminal charges were not pursued, and the case was passed on to the Saskatchewan justice agency for an independent review.
Once the trial concludes in Canada, Nygard is set to be extradited to the United States to face nine other sex crime charges. In 2020, he was arrested in Winnipeg under the Extradition Act for allegations in New York.
In addition to the Canadian charges, Nygard has been accused of luring at least 10 women to his home in the Bahamas, promising them cash payments and lucrative modeling opportunities. Instead, the women allegedly faced abuse, as they were plied with drugs and alcohol and violently assaulted.
The trial continues, and Nygard’s victims hope to find justice as more evidence and testimonies are presented.
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