Former Woodstock mayor denies any wrongdoing at sexual assault trial
Testifying in his own defence, the former mayor of Woodstock took the stand Tuesday in a London, Ont. courtroom and denied that he sexually assaulted a woman he had been involved with.
Questioned by his lawyer James Battin, 49-year-old Trevor Birtch appeared calm while giving his side of the story at the sexual assault trial.
Birtch said he had been romantically involved with the female complainant but that he did nothing wrong. When talking about their relationship, he said that she was more aggressive and jealous.
Birtch said while on a road trip in the summer of 2021, the name “Michelle” appeared on his cellphone and that’s when everything changed, he testified, ”She went into a fit of rage, hitting me and punching the dash…she was having quite a bit of alcohol that day…she got out of the car and was stumbling.”
On another occasion when the complainant saw him dropping groceries off to the same woman, he said, “She punched my head, I had a black eye. She said, ‘I wouldn’t have to do that if you stayed away from that person.’”
As for the incident on Valentine’s Day when they were at a hotel and spa in London, Birtch said he was very tired that day after having worked and that it upset her again, “She grabbed me by the hair and pushed me out of bed…she was very upset because we didn’t have any romantic time together.”
Birtch told the court that their relationship came to a head in December of that year when she broke into his home after sending several text messages. He said, “I wasn’t looking at them I was trying to get some sleep…she was getting upset”
He said she then climbed onto his carport roof and got into his home, “I was startled awake when the door was busted open, she started yelling and I could tell she was under the influence of alcohol.”
Birtch is facing two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial is expected to be wrapped up by the end of this week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977430.1721929538!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
LIVE NOW Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
WATCH LIVE Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
NASA says no return date yet for astronauts and Boeing capsule at space station
Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.
French sprinter will wear a cap during Olympic opening ceremony after hijab dispute is resolved
French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla will be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics wearing a cap to cover her hair, an agreement reached with the French Olympic Committee after Sylla said she was barred because of her hijab.
Spicy dispute over the origins of Flamin' Hot Cheetos winds up in court
A former PepsiCo executive is suing the company, saying it destroyed his career after questioning his claim that he invented the popular flavor of Cheetos snacks.