Ex-neurologist not guilty on 48 counts of sexual assault, Ontario judge rules

Jeffrey Sloka, a former first earl kitchener of khartoum, Ont., brain doctor, has been found non shamed of 48 counts of sexual assault in connection to incidents dating back to 2010.

The sexual assault trial for former Kitchener, Ont., neurologist Jeffrey Sloka began nearly five years ago.

On Friday, he was found not guilty on 48 charges involving patients he saw when he was practising, before the Ontario college representing doctors revoked his licence in 2019. 

The allegations date back to 2010. 

Justice Craig Parry had prepared a 1,002-page ruling document, but gave a short summary of the case and his findings before a courtroom packed with supporters of the former patients and Sloka’s family.

"I accept that [Sloka] adequately proposed, identified and explained each examination he acknowledged performing," Parry said.

"Having looked at the totality of the evidence of each count, I've concluded that on each count, the Crown has failed to prove that Dr. Sloka used medical examinations as a ruse to gain access to the bodies of his female patients."

Parry also found each patient "provided unreliable evidence" to some degree.

His rulings drew immediate reaction from those in the courtroom, with some shouting "shame" and crying.

Groups of people had gathered outside the courthouse well before the 10 a.m. ET start of proceedings, holding up signs and expressing support for Sloka's former patients.

The allegations first surfaced in 2017. Sloka had patients presenting with issues from migraines to head injuries.

During his trial, which took years because of a variety of delays, court was told Sloka asked patients to undress so he could perform a physical or skin examination, including breast and pelvic exams.

Patients took to the witness box. Sloka also testified, in his own defence, either denying the allegations or justifying them.

At one point, Sloka had 76 charges against him. Charges were dropped at the request of the Crown.

Many supporters of the complainants stayed outside the courthouse to express upset about the judge’s decisions.

Sloka’s lawyer also spoke to the media briefly, saying all his client wanted was a fair trial, and Sloka "wants people to know how grateful he is for all the people who supported him."

One of the former patients who had testified in the case confronted Sloka’s lawyers outside the courthouse. 

Humphrey requested that she have the conversation privately and “not now in front of media” — she agreed to talk later.

Sloka’s lawyer, David Humphrey, tells reporters outside the courthouse that all his client wanted was a fair trial.

"For anyone who followed the trial would see it was a conspicuously fair trial.… We all now know that there were no sexual assaults," he said.

He said the judge accepted the argument that Sloka had a medical purpose for all of his examinations.

"[Sloka] wants people to know how grateful he is for all the people who supported him," he said.

"People should know he’s had and enjoyed the continued support of his friends and family, colleagues.… There are a lot of people in support of him and are happy about the decision."

"I feel like I’m in shock," Sara Casselman of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region told reporters outside the courthouse while holding back tears.

"As much as I knew the possibility, I wasn’t expecting not guilty."

The mother of one of the patients who testified in the case asked, "Where do we go from here?"

Some of Sloka’s former patients who testified in court are standing outside the courthouse in tears, speaking to the media.

They say they are disappointed by the outcome of the case and the judge’s decisions.

Justice Parry has returned to court but they have moved onto other matters. The proceedings for Sloka are over.

A woman is pacing back and forth in front of the courtroom doors, waiting for Sloka to exit after the not guilty findings.

"He’s going to look at me," she says defiantly. 

She looks very distressed as she paces. Back and forth. Back and forth. Pausing every now and then to look through the windows on the courthouse doors.

Sloka has left the courtroom but did not come through the main doors. 

Police say he's gone out through another door. The woman is very upset.

After Parry delivered his decision, following short statements from a 1002-page ruling document, the judge was interrupted by people in the gallery.

Some shouted "shame" and started crying.

Parry paused as a number of people got up to leave. 

In handing down his decisions, Parry said he found that neurology expert Dr. Vera Bril's evidence "proved incapable" of establishing that Sloka performed examinations "in a manner inconsistent with his training."

When it came to the complainants, Parry said, "to varying degrees, each provided unreliable evidence" and he felt their testimony was tainted by what they saw in the media.

"Some also provided evidence that lacked credibility. Some were also deliberately dishonest with the court.”

The court has entered into recess and people are leaving.

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