Peter Nygard, the previous vogue government behind a now defunct Canadian clothes model, took the stand at a Toronto courthouse on Wednesday to counter what his lawyer known as the “revisionist historical past” put forth by 5 ladies who’ve accused him of sexual assault.
Jurors would hear proof amounting to a “clear, unequivocal and emphatic denial” of the 5 counts of sexual assault and one depend of forcible confinement filed towards Mr. Nygard, his lawyer, Brian Greenspan, stated on Tuesday afternoon.
Prosecutors — with “some dramatic flourish,” Mr. Greenspan added — tried to border Mr. Nygard’s life-style in accordance with their concept that he was “a sexual predator, a egocentric megalomanic in what has been misrepresented as his secret and hidden cave.”
All 5 ladies described from the witness stand how they ended up in a hidden bed room suite at his workplace constructing in Toronto the place they stated Mr. Nygard sexually assaulted them.
However Mr. Greenspan stated that the protection’s proof would “render the revisionist historical past which the complainants have supplied inaccurate, unreliable and untrustworthy.”
He informed jurors that Mr. Nygard had waived his proper to stay silent to testify in his personal protection.
The primary portion his testimony on Wednesday morning, which was anticipated to proceed by the afternoon, didn’t address the allegations however supplied a biographical overview of his life and profession. At 82, his distinctive flowing hair was white and was pulled again into a big low bun, with a pair of orange tinted glasses sitting on his nostril.
Mr. Nygard’s household left Finland in 1952 to flee the specter of a Russian invasion through the Korean Battle and lived in poverty for years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mr. Nygard stated, describing his considerably meteoric rise into the style world by exhausting work, in addition to some luck.
“By necessity, we needed to work to outlive,” Mr. Nygard stated, recalling his job as a at a textile manufacturing facility beneath troublesome circumstances the place his mom labored as a stitching machine operator. “The one means that you possibly can have one of these success is that you’d simply outwork the following man.”
His firm, which he based in 1967, grew to 2,000 staff, competing with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, he stated, popularizing a kind of polyester that made him referred to as the “polyester king” and turned him into a star within the vogue world.
Mr. Nygard stated he favored to be concerned within the minor particulars of his firm’s operations, even approving the Phantom of the Opera music soundtrack for vogue reveals and the design of storefront merchandise shows.
Mr. Nygard additionally stated his firm supplied a variety of perks, together with bedrooms at his workplaces and warehouses for workers who wanted to relaxation.
The bed room within the Toronto workplace was “fondly referred to as the Finland Suite,” his lawyer, Mr. Greenspan, stated, and was a function of the constructing that the corporate shared in its promotional commercials.
Mr. Nygard appeared comfortable on the stand and even laughed at instances. He blamed his incapacity to recollect sure particulars on “quick time period reminiscence loss.”
His obsession along with his profession took a toll on his first and solely marriage, which led to 1972, after three years. He by no means married once more, he stated, however, when requested by his lawyer, stated he had relationships with different ladies.
“In fact, after all, I’m a human being,” he stated, inserting his arms on his chest.
