Woman alleging sexual assault by Canadian soldier cross-examined by defence
Disclaimer: Content in this article may be disturbing or triggering to some readers.
A woman who alleges a Canadian soldier sexually assaulted her while at Canadian Forces Base Borden in 2018 came under fire by the accused’s defence lawyer in a Barrie courtroom on Tuesday.
Elle Jaszberenyi was 53 and a military member when she claims then-Private Oleksii Silin raped her in a broom closed after the two shared a drink in a common room.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
During cross-examination, Silin’s defence lawyer, Mitchell Worsoff, became frustrated with Jaszberenyi's testimony, saying, “We’re trying to get to the truth of what happened here.”
Jaszberenyi testified Silin pulled her into the dark closet and that the accused "turned into another person," describing the incident as “the opposite of a romantic situation,” while Worsoff referred to the act as intercourse.
“I wouldn’t call it intercourse,” Jaszberenyi said. “It was rape.”
She told the court she tried to leave the room but couldn’t, saying she “had to survive this somehow.”
In a 2018 military police interview, Silin, in his broken English, said he kissed Jaszberenyi, and “she didn’t say nothing.”
During that same interview, Silin accused Jaszberenyi of exaggerating the 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.”
In the Barrie courtroom on Tuesday, his defence lawyer argued Jaszberenyi went into the closet with his client willingly and was laughing about it.
Jaszberenyi countered, alleging Silin targeted her, and that she repeatedly told him no while he violated her.
She went on to characterize Worsoff’s suggestions as “victim blaming” and “appalling,” and told the courtroom this is why victims of sexual assault don’t come forward, adding she was shamed and ultimately lost her career.
Cpl. Silin is expected to testify when the trial resumes on Thursday. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
A prior publication ban protecting Jaszberenyi's identity, as a complainant of sexual assault, was removed at her request in September 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Halifax police confirm body of Walmart employee was found in walk-in oven
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
Man charged after attempting to force his way into the House of Commons: police
On the tenth anniversary of the shooting on Parliament Hill, a man was arrested and charged with trespassing as he attempted to push past security guards into the House of Commons.
'We all got through it': Canadian family stuck in Cuba recalls ordeal amid massive blackout
Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time at one of Cuba's famously stunning beaches and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero when the situation turned into something like a scary movie.
Kevin Vickers says 'not a day that goes by' he doesn't think about Parliament Hill shooting
On the 10-year anniversary of the deadly Parliament Hill shooting, former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers says there's 'not a day that goes by' where he doesn't think about it.
Cooldown expected across Canada before above-seasonal temperatures return
Canada is getting served a smorgasbord of weather this week. The West saw its first sign of winter, while the eastern half of Canada experienced summer-like temperatures on Tuesday.
Former Conservative leader says Trudeau 'should move on' amid efforts to oust him
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'should move on,' as he faces growing inner-caucus turmoil.
One dead in multistate E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, CDC says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert Tuesday regarding an E. coli outbreak that it says is linked with McDonald's Quarter Pounders.
Butter shoplifters strike again! Two more large-scale thefts reported in Guelph, Ont.
At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.
Are Listeria recalls on the rise or are we just hearing more about them?
Consumers in Canada are being told to check their freezers after hundreds of frozen waffle products were recalled for fears of a possible Listeria contamination. The voluntary recall was just the latest in a string of listeria-related recalls in North America.