He originally opted for trial by jury but has since revised his decision and his case will be heard by judge alone.
Éric Salvail, seen in a 2016 file photo, is accused of sexually assaulting, criminally harassing and kidnapping Donald Duguay in 1993.
The sexual assault trial of Quebec television personality and producer Éric Salvail begins Monday in Montreal.
Salvail faces three charges — sexual assault, forcible confinement and criminal harassment — against alleged victim Donald Duguay. Now in his 40s, Duguay chose to make his identity known despite the nature of the charges.
The offences are alleged to have occurred in 1993.
A preliminary hearing was held for the 50-year-old Salvail last September. He originally opted for trial by jury but has since revised his decision and his case will be heard by judge alone.
Testimony will be heard Monday, as the trail gets under way more than a year after his arrest on Jan. 15, 2019.
A mainstay of Quebec’s cultural scene, Salvail took to his Facebook page to say he was “strongly shaken” by the allegations against him and would be taking a “professional pause,” that would see production of his television and radio shows suspended.
