Jury hears defence's closing arguments in sexual assault case against Regina chiropractor
The defense presented their closing arguments to a jury in the case of a Regina-based chiropractor charged of sexual assault Wednesday afternoon.
Ruben Manz faces a total of seven counts of sexual assault. He was first arrested in April of 2021 after two former clients came forward, alleging they were subjected to "inappropriate and unwanted actions" during their chiropractic treatments.
The other clients came forward after his arrest.
The alleged incidents occurred over the span of a decade.
Throughout the nearly four-week trial, all seven complainants and the accused all took the stand to give their testimony. Both the Crown and defence each called their own expert witnesses as well.
Credibility challenged
Defense counsel Kathy Hodgson-Smith challenged the credibility of the alleged victims’ testimonies as part of her closing remarks often calling each’s memory, “poor.”
“What [they’re] saying [it doesn't] make sense,” the lawyer said. “And it's contradicted.”
Hodgson-Smith often highlighted Manz’s time on the stand, calling it “consistent.”
“[Manz] was a chiropractor doing his job,” she said. “His treatment fell within the standard of care. It was appropriate treatment. the PNF stretch was medically indicated.”
“Why would [he] throw away his dream of being a chiropractor he's had -- since he was four. Why would he throw his and his wife's wellness clinic out the window, his life's work, to touch a breast,” Hodgson-Smith went on to say.
The defence likened this case to a bowl of thousands of beads. The beads representing each patient Manz has ever treated in his over two decades as a chiropractor.
Through her argument, she would motion taking each of the complainants’ cases out of the imaginary bowl.
“There are seven beads on the table which appear independent,” Hodgson-Smith said.
- Get the CTV News app for Saskatchewan breaking news alerts and top stories
But as her remarks went on, she would motion to string the beads together. Saying Manz’s testimony remained constant while the complainants did not.
“We comfortably take a needle and put that needle through [the beads] which string these people [together],” Hodgson-Smith described.
Defence’s perceived verdict roadmap
The defence then gave the jury an outline of how they may come to a not-guilty verdict, asking them to consider three questions for each charge Manz faces.
The first, did he touch her breast?
And if the answer to the question is, “Yes,” to go to a second question. Did he intentionally touch her breast?
And if the answer for that question was also, “Yes,” they may move to the third question. Did he touch her on the breast in circumstances of a sexual nature?
If the answer to all three questions is, “Yes,” then the jury may find Manz guilty.
But if the answer was ever, “No,” then the jury should find Manz not guilty.
Proceedings delayed
Proceedings were delayed further Wednesday after the defence took over two hours to go through their closing argument.
Because the court could not keep the jury past 4:30 p.m., Justice Janet McMurtry was forced to pause Hodgson-Smith’s remarks before she had completed her entire argument.
The defence will be allowed to wrap up their closing remarks Thursday afternoon before the Crown submits their final arguments afterwards.
That was when Justice McMurtry was set to give her final instructions to the jury and sequester them to make their verdict.
Because of the delay, the jury will be sequestered beginning Friday morning.
Thirteen jurors have heard this case through the nearly four weeks of proceedings. Before they are sequestered, one member will be selected at random to be removed and 12 will make that decision.
They must come to a unanimous verdict for each charge before they will be released.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
G2 driver stopped going more than 100 km/h over the speed limit on Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario
A 17-year-old driver is facing charges after being caught speeding and driving dangerously on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario Friday evening, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal joins growing chorus of Liberals calling for Trudeau to step down
Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal has publicly released letters he sent to the Liberal caucus and president of the Liberal Party of Canada, calling on them to begin the process of moving on from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
How some men are trying to fight online misogyny amid 'your body, my choice' rhetoric
A young man with a buzz cut leans on a pristine countertop in a stark white kitchen and looks directly into the camera as he delivers what he presents as the secret to dating success for straight men.
New Canadians, non-traditional demographics boost minor hockey uptake in B.C.
Participation in hockey in British Columbia was struggling in 2021 — the pandemic had dealt a heavy blow to player registrations, and numbers had already been flagging before COVID-19 arrived.
Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments
Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state.
Physical therapy is 'the best-kept secret in health care'
If you think physical therapy is only about rehabilitation after surgery or recovering from an accident, think again. For the vast majority, seeing a physical therapist should be about prevention, routine assessment and staying well.
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster who broke barriers during his career calling some of the biggest sporting events, has died from cancer, according to a statement from his family released by the network on Friday. He was 78.
The husband-wife legal team working on two of today’s biggest criminal cases
The rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs and the suspected health care CEO assassin Luigi Mangione have decided on a similar defense strategy: Hire an Agnifilo. Or two.
Russia's Putin apologizes to Azerbaijan over 'tragic' airliner crash
Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to Azerbaijan's leader for what the Kremlin called a 'tragic incident' over Russia in which an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed after Russian air defenses were fired against Ukrainian drones.