Jury finds former Yellowknife city councillor not guilty on 6 charges in assault trial

A jury has found a former Yellowknife city councillor not guilty on six charges, after nearly two days of deliberating in an assault trial. The jury was not able to reach a verdict on eight other charges. 

Robin Williams, who served on council from 2018 to 2022, was on trial for a total of 14 charges including those of assault and sexual assault. The allegations were made by the same woman — whose identity is protected by a publication ban — over an eight-year period. 

The jury found Williams was not guilty on four charges of assault, and charges of assault by choking, and mischief. The jury did not reach a consensus on the other eight charges: two of sexual assault, four of assault, one of assault causing bodily harm and one of uttering threats.

Williams had pleaded not guilty to all the charges before the court. 

He cried as the jury's decision was delivered in court on Friday, and his family members hugged each other. Williams's defence lawyer, Evan McIntyre, told CBC News that he and his client were pleased with the decision. 

Prosecutor Brian Bencze said the Crown respected the decision. 

In their closing arguments earlier this week, McIntyre argued that Williams's accuser lied under oath multiple times. He also referenced the amount of time it took her to respond to his questions while testifying, and talked about the impact the allegations have had on his client. 

Bencze, meanwhile, said the woman's testimony was credible and that the jury had enough evidence to find Williams guilty of all 14 charges. He said the woman had evidence – including photos and text messages – to corroborate her claims.

Supreme Court Justice David Gates asked lawyers to return to court on Feb 24., where the Crown is expected to announce its next steps regarding the charges the jury didn't reach a decision on.