TORONTO – The Ontario Court of Appeal is scheduled to review Peter Nygard's appeal concerning his sexual assault convictions and subsequent prison sentence. This appeal arises from a trial during which the defense contended that the trial judge made significant errors, particularly by allowing the testimony of trauma expert Dr. Lori Haskell.
In 2023, Nygard, the former fashion mogul, was convicted on four counts of sexual assault, leading to an 11-year prison sentence. This sentence adjusts to nearly seven years when accounting for time he had already served awaiting trial. The allegations against him span several decades, dating from the 1980s through the mid-2000s, involving multiple women who have come forward with their experiences.
Nygard's legal team filed a notice of appeal in 2024, arguing that both his sentence was "excessive" and the trial judge made an error by permitting Dr. Haskell’s testimony regarding the psychological effects of trauma on victims. They pointed out the case of Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard, whose own appeal regarding a 2022 sexual assault conviction highlighted similar concerns about Haskell's testimony, citing a risk of misuse by the jury. Despite these arguments, Hoggard's conviction was upheld as no miscarriage of justice was found.
The Crown, in written submissions to the Appeal Court, argued that the inclusion of Haskell's testimony in Nygard's trial constituted a "harmless error" that did not mislead the jury or contribute to any miscarriage of justice. The presiding judge who denied Nygard bail in 2024 noted that admitting Haskell's testimony is the only "legally plausible" argument presented in Nygard's appeal.
Moreover, Nygard's lawyers claimed that the trial judge incorrectly allowed the jury to consider evidence from one complainant to determine the credibility of evidence from other complainants, potentially skewing the jury's decision-making process.
As part of his appeal, Nygard seeks to have his conviction overturned or set aside, and requests the court to order a new trial. He is also asking for a reduced sentence and any additional relief that the Appeal Court might find suitable.
Peter Nygard founded a global women’s clothing company in Winnipeg in 1967. His career significantly changed in February 2020 when the FBI and local police raided his New York offices, leading to a decline in his business and public image.
In addition to the charges in Ontario, Nygard also faced criminal accusations in Manitoba, but these charges were stayed in October after a ruling determined that police records from 1993 had been destroyed without justification. This was considered a violation of Nygard's Charter right to a fair trial. Although prosecutors opted not to pursue charges in 2020, the matter was forwarded for independent review, resulting in Nygard’s arrest.
Recently, Nygard's legal team initiated a lawsuit against both the Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments, along with the Winnipeg police and other parties, alleging defamation and abuse of process related to the earlier charges. These claims have yet to be tested in a court of law.
Currently, Nygard is also preparing for a trial concerning sex-related charges in Quebec and may face extradition to the United States on severe allegations including sex trafficking and racketeering. Throughout this tumultuous legal journey, Nygard has consistently denied all accusations against him.
This report was initially published on May 4, 2026.
