A years-long legal battle concluded Wednesday with former Conservative senator Don Meredith found not guilty of sexual assault and criminal harassment. The verdict brought a visible wave of relief to Meredith, marking the end of a deeply personal and publicly scrutinized case.
The charges stemmed from allegations made by a woman who worked in Meredith’s Senate office between late 2013 and early 2014. She detailed a series of disturbing encounters, claiming unwanted physical contact and inappropriate virtual requests.
The complainant testified for ten days, recounting alleged incidents including unwanted hugs, kisses, and touching, as well as a request to remove clothing during a video call and an instance of indecent exposure in a hotel. These accusations painted a picture of a power imbalance and a hostile work environment.
Meredith vehemently denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings. His defense centered on challenging the reliability of the complainant’s testimony and presenting evidence to counter her claims.
The Crown argued that the alleged misconduct, combined with remarks that reportedly instilled fear in the woman, constituted criminal harassment, impacting her psychological safety. They sought to demonstrate a pattern of behavior designed to intimidate and control.
However, Justice Narissa Somji ultimately found the complainant’s evidence “unreliable.” Her decision hinged on inconsistencies within the testimony and contradictions presented by Crown witnesses and Meredith’s wife.
Specifically, the judge noted that aspects of the woman’s account were not substantiated and that Meredith’s version of events was not seriously challenged. This lack of corroborating evidence created reasonable doubt, leading to the acquittal on all counts.
Following the verdict, Meredith expressed gratitude to his family and legal counsel, describing the experience as a prolonged ordeal. He spoke of a weight lifted, signifying the end of years spent under a cloud of suspicion and accusation.
This case initially gained public attention in 2017 when Meredith resigned from the Senate after an ethics officer found he had violated the chamber’s code of conduct through a previous relationship with a minor. This earlier scandal foreshadowed the later criminal charges and intensified the scrutiny surrounding his conduct.
The acquittal does not erase the earlier ethical concerns, but it does conclude the criminal proceedings, leaving behind a complex legacy and questions about power dynamics within the Senate and the challenges of proving allegations of misconduct.
