Unprecedented prosecution of Cdn. soldier accused of sexual assault at CFB Borden goes to trial
Disclaimer: Content in this article may be disturbing or triggering to some readers.
The unprecedented civilian court prosecution of a Canadian soldier accused of sexual assault and forcible confinement against a female military member while at Canadian Forces Base Borden in 2018 has gone to trial.
The complainant, Elvira Jaszberenyi, took the stand to testify Monday morning against the accused, Oleksii Silin.
Jaszberenyi, now 60, first came forward to military police in May 2018 and alleged she had been sexually assaulted and confined against her will in a maintenance closet by Silin.
During a military police interview that same month, she alleged, "It happened so damn quickly that, you know, you don't even have time to think."
Silin, in the May 16 interview, said, " I, like, kissed her, and she didn't say nothing, like she's not agree or she want to go or something like this."
The complainant maintained it was not consensual.
In her 2018 military police interview, the complainant said, "I should've fought. Anyway, [I] can't take back what I didn't do," adding, "I just turned my back on him, and I just bent over, and I said, okay, let him finish, and I'm out of here. So, I just gave up."
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
During the interview, she told investigators she felt helpless and feared for her safety. "He's a lot stronger than me, so I wasn't even going to attempt to fight."
The complainant said the Military Justice System (MJS) failed her and countless others whose reports of sexual assault and misconduct in the military have been brushed aside.
The MJS ultimately decided not to move forward against then-Private Silin. The MJS Judge Advocate General did not pursue the charges, citing a lack of training by those who conducted the interviews with the woman and Silin.
In the May interview, Silin claimed, in his broken English, the complainant exaggerated events. "I said, Let's go with me, and she said, 'No, like I want to go sleep,' and then I take her hand, and just maybe that's why, like, force," he explained.
A prior publication ban protecting Jaszberenyi's identity, as a complainant of sexual assault, was removed at Jaszberenyi's request in September 2023.
Silin, an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces and now a corporal, is represented by Toronto lawyer Mitchell Worsoff.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former B.C. premier Christy Clark wants to be 'part of the conversation' on Liberal party future
As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces growing pressure to step aside, former B.C. premier Christy Clark says she is open to 'returning to politics' should the position of Liberal leader become available.
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE New Brunswick election 2024: Polls close after 33-day campaign
Polls are now closed in New Brunswick, where hundreds of thousands of residents voted Monday in what is predicted to be a tight provincial election.
2 plead guilty to B.C. murder of former Air India suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik
Two men charged in the killing of former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a British Columbia court.
Major Toronto hospital network reinstates masking requirement
The University Health Network (UHN) is making masks mandatory as respiratory illness season ramps up.
Investigation ongoing into death of 19-year-old Walmart employee in Halifax
The investigation into the sudden death of a 19-year-old Walmart employee over the weekend is ongoing in Halifax.
Alleged assassination target calls expelled Indian high commissioner 'less of a diplomat and more of a hypocrite'
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun — a dual Canada-United States citizen and the target of an alleged assassination attempt in New York City last year — says the expelled Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, is 'less of a diplomat, and more of a hypocrite.'
Death toll from B.C. atmospheric river climbs as driver found dead, another presumed drowned
Mounties on Vancouver Island say one person is dead and another is presumed to have drowned after two vehicles were found submerged in a river following heavy rains that washed out roadways across British Columbia.
Are you a Canadian stuck in Cuba without power? We want to hear from you
Daily life in Cuba has been largely affected since an outage led to a nationwide blackout in the country, followed by Tropical Storm Oscar hitting the country's east coast. If you're a Canadian stuck in Cuba through this ordeal, CTV News wants to hear from you.
Frozen waffles recalled across Canada, U.S. over Listeria concerns
A U.S.-based food manufacturer that supplies frozen waffles to major grocery chains across North America has launched a voluntary recall over concerns its products carry the potential for illness.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Victims share impact of University of Waterloo stabbing spree at attacker's sentencing hearing
Victims are sharing the lasting impact of the 2023 triple stabbing at the University of Waterloo. The attacker, Geovanny Villalba-Aleman, previously pled guilty to four assault-related charges.
-
GPS technology the focus on Day 5 of second-degree murder trial of Erick Buhr
Testimony continued Monday at the trial of Erick Buhr, who has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder of his grandmother, Viola Erb.
-
Waterloo, Ont. company removed from U.S. entity list after supplying tech used for surveillance, spyware
A Waterloo, Ont. tech company says it’s been removed from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s entity list, after previously supplying technology allegedly used for mass surveillance and censorship.
London
-
'The focus needs to be the failings of the system'; victims of violence against women speak out at rally
"We cannot allow the dehumanization of women and girls to occur even in its smallest [form]," said Mayor Morgan while speaking at the podium.
-
Charges laid after sexual assault on underage girl: London police
Around 10 p.m. on Oct. 17, police said a teenaged girl met a man in the area of Clarke Road and Wavell Street. The two people struck up a conversation and walked together to the east side of a school in the area.
-
CN begins the first of several east end crossing upgrades
A crossing near the intersection of Highbury and Florence was shut down on Monday afternoon for rail repairs.
Windsor
-
Windsor Liberation Zone organizers pleased the University won’t reconsider two agreements with protestors
The Windsor Liberation Zone organizers are pleased that the University of Windsor will not reconsider two agreements made with pro-Palestinian protestors. The agreements were signed after a nine-week occupation.
-
As demand for Alzheimer’s care increases, Lisa Williams is 'lucky' to have family by her side for her mother
Despite the uncertainties of caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s disease, Lisa Williams feels fortunate to have the time, energy and support of her immediate family.
-
Running community mourns death of marathon runner
The running community is mourning the death of a runner following the Detroit Free Press Marathon.
Northern Ontario
-
Missing for eight months, Sudbury-area Chihuahua mix reunited with owners
It’s a story of survival and perseverance. A Chihuahua and terrier mix named Diamondhas been reunited with her owners after going missing in Markstay-Warren in March.
-
Sault rally hears from victims of violence
Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.
-
Northern Ont. First Nation protests after ancestral remains found during excavation
An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Sault rally hears from victims of violence
Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.
-
Northern Ont. First Nation protests after ancestral remains found during excavation
An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.
-
Fines as high as $50K for owners of vacant properties in Sault Ste. Marie
The owners of 73 vacant properties in the Sault have been fined for violations of the city's vacant properties bylaw, including 33 owned by a firm going through a high-profile insolvency process.
Ottawa
-
'I regret leaving my cat there': Eastern Ontario cat rescue under investigation, allegations of abuse, neglect
A cat rescue southwest of Ottawa is under investigation after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records have surfaced.
-
Trillium Line passes 14-day trial running
OC Transpo says the line finished the test with a 14-day rolling average on-time performance of 99.5 per cent.
-
City of Ottawa hybrid workers required to be in the office 2 days a week
As federal employees head into the office three days a week under the federal government's new hybrid work model, the City of Ottawa is only requiring its hybrid employees to be in the office a minimum of two days a week.
Toronto
-
Major Toronto hospital network reinstates masking requirement
The University Health Network (UHN) is making masks mandatory as respiratory illness season ramps up.
-
'Failure to provide necessities of life': Durham cop charged in on-duty incident
A Durham police officer has been charged criminally after he allegedly failed to render medical assistance to a person in distress.
-
Hamilton man shot after letting six-year-old play with gun now facing charges: police
A 25-year-old Hamilton man who was shot after letting a six-year-old child play with his gun is facing charges, police say. That’s just one incident in what Hamilton police say has been a record year for shootings in the city.
Montreal
-
Quebec religion wants Health Canada's blessing to use magic mushrooms in ceremonies
A Quebec-based religion says Health Canada is dragging its feet on a decision whether to allow members to use magic mushrooms in their ceremonies.
-
Montreal-area woman hit by gunshot while lying in bed 2 floors above neighbour: police
A 23-year-old woman is recovering in hospital after being shot while lying in her bed in Repentigny, Que. on Friday night.
-
Plateau residents upset after city removes parking spots for trees
Some people living in the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal are seeing red over a new landscaping project meant to bring more green to the neighbourhood.
Atlantic
-
WATCH LIVEWATCH LIVE New Brunswick election 2024: Polls close after 33-day campaign
Polls are now closed in New Brunswick, where hundreds of thousands of residents voted Monday in what is predicted to be a tight provincial election.
-
Investigation ongoing into death of 19-year-old Walmart employee in Halifax
The investigation into the sudden death of a 19-year-old Walmart employee over the weekend is ongoing in Halifax.
-
Record high temperatures set Sunday in the Maritimes; chance at more Monday
A very fair and mild October weekend allowed for a few recording-setting high temperatures in the Maritimes.
Winnipeg
-
Nearly half of Winnipeg construction projects completed as nice weather extends work season
Almost half of the Winnipeg’s construction projects are either done or substantially done, according to the city.
-
Manitoba mandating passenger heaters for all buses starting in November
Starting next month, all buses in Manitoba will require functional heating systems for passengers.
-
17-year-old girl arrested after two teen boys attacked with machete outside Winnipeg school
A 17-year-old girl is facing charges in connection with a machete attack involving two teenage boys outside a Winnipeg school.
Calgary
-
7 sent to hospital after 9-vehicle crash on Peigan Trail
Three people were sent to hospital following a crash on Peigan Trail Monday morning.
-
Here's what Calgary Parking says about stickers covering tap payment readers
Calgary Parking says there is “no need to worry” about stickers covering the contactless payment sensors on payment machines in the city.
-
Fatal shooting at Homestead Drive home linked to organized crime: police
Police now say a deadly shooting Friday evening in northeast Calgary is linked to organized crime. According to police, about a quarter of the year's total shootings are.
Edmonton
-
Edmonton Public Schools support staff to go on strike Thursday
Edmonton Public Schools support workers will go on strike on Thursday.
-
Oilers coach, players hesitant to change struggling power play
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told media Monday after practice that although his team's usually potent power play has been sputtering badly to start the season, he's not ready – yet – to make changes to it.
-
Alberta basketball coach pleads guilty to child pornography charges
A Stony Plain basketball coach has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.
Regina
-
SaskPower warns of Interac e-Transfer scam
SaskPower is warning customers of an email scam currently making the rounds.
-
Regina police searching for suspect in weekend assault in North Central
Regina police are asking the public for help as it searches for a suspect involved in an assault in the North Central area on Sunday.
-
Saskatchewan contractor fined $125,000 for workplace injury
A construction firm has pled guilty in the case of a serious workplace injury in 2023 near Moose Jaw.
Saskatoon
-
'Hateful and mean': LGBTQ+ advocates slam Sask. Party's proposed change room policy
A Saskatoon LGBTQ+ advocate says if the Saskatchewan Party's proposed change room policy had been in place when he was a kid, he would not have survived high school.
-
Sask. woman charged with impaired driving in collision that killed two Alberta women
The RCMP says a 32-year-old Saskatchewan woman has been charged with criminal negligence and impaired driving after causing a fatal collision in the wrong lane of Highway 11.
-
Saskatoon police say 76-year-old man pushed down stairs after domestic dispute
Saskatoon police have arrested a woman who investigators believe may have pushed a 76-year-old man down a flight of stairs on Friday night.
Vancouver
-
Death toll from B.C. atmospheric river climbs as driver found dead, another presumed drowned
Mounties on Vancouver Island say one person is dead and another is presumed to have drowned after two vehicles were found submerged in a river following heavy rains that washed out roadways across British Columbia.
-
Man tasered, arrested in Victoria, B.C., school library: police
A school in Victoria, B.C., went into lockdown Monday before police tasered and arrested a man in the library, according to authorities.
-
B.C. Greens' ex- leader Weaver thinks minority deal with NDP less likely than in 2017
Former B.C. Green leader Andrew Weaver knows what it's like to form a minority government with the NDP, but says such a deal to form the province's next government is less likely this time than seven years ago.
Vancouver Island
-
Death toll from B.C. atmospheric river climbs as driver found dead, another presumed drowned
Mounties on Vancouver Island say one person is dead and another is presumed to have drowned after two vehicles were found submerged in a river following heavy rains that washed out roadways across British Columbia.
-
Man tasered, arrested in Victoria, B.C., school library: police
A school in Victoria, B.C., went into lockdown Monday before police tasered and arrested a man in the library, according to authorities.
-
3 charged with murder after Vancouver Island overdose death
Two people have been arrested and one is still at large in the alleged murder of a woman on Vancouver Island whose 2023 overdose death police treated as suspicious.
