The Canadian broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi faces new charges of sexual assault from three women who had not previously come forward.
The new complaints were read aloud in a courtroom in downtown Toronto on Thursday. In total, Ghomeshi, one of Canada’s most popular broadcasters and the former host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) radio show Q, faces seven sexual assault charges and one charge of overcoming resistance by choking.
Ghomeshi has previously denied such allegations, saying he engaged in occasional “rough sex” with women, which was always consensual.
His lawyer, Marie Henein, said on Thursday the former radio host will plead not guilty to all charges, the Toronto star reported.
“Anything we have to say will be said in court,” she added.
The three new alleged sexual assaults took place in August 2002, July 2003 and February 2008, a prosecutor told the court, according to reports from journalists who were there. A publication ban has been placed on the identities of the women.
In the courtroom, Ghomeshi appeared sombre and sat hunched in his seat as the new charges were read, the CBC reported. Dressed in a dark suit and accompanied by his mother, Ghomeshi did not look at reporters who filled the pews.
Ghomeshi was officially fired from his job in October after his employer, the CBC, received information about what they described as Ghomeshi’s alleged penchant for sadomasochistic sex – just before the sexual assault allegations were revealed in an investigation by reporters working for the Toronto Star.
On 26 November, Ghomeshi turned himself over to police. Following his arrest, he was released on $100,000 bail and moved in with his mother, who is his surety.
His bail conditions were amended on Thursday to prohibit him from contacting or going within 500ft of the three complainants, the Star reported. Other restrictions already in place required Ghomeshi to surrender his passport, live at his mother’s home while awaiting trial and remain in Ontario.
The CBC recently announced that two executives had been placed on extended leave in connection with the Ghomeshi allegations. The network has hired a lawyer to investigate the network’s handling of the allegations involving Ghomeshi.
He is next due in court on 4 February.
